Book H5"A
Copyright ]^^
COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT.
VALLEY FORGE
GUIDE AND HAND-BOOK
VALLEY FORGE
GUIDE AND HAND-BOOK
By
Rev. JAMES W. RIDDLE, A.M.
Member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; Member
Philadelphia Baptist Ministers Conference
"•If there is a spot on the face of our broad land where patriot-
ism should delight to pile its highest and most venerated monu-
ments, it should be in the bosom of that rugged gorge on the bank
of the Schuylkill, twenty miles northwest from Philadelphia,
known as Valley Forge, where the American Army was encamped
during that terrible winter of 1777-8." — Lossing.
"■Valley Forge, the 'Mecca of America,' where civilians will
flock to imbibe lessons of patriotism, and soldiers to acquire in-
spiration of valor." — Ex. Gov. Pollock.
"No spot on earth — not the plains of Marathon, nor the passes
of Sempach, nor the place of the Bastile, nor the dykes of Holland,
nor the moores of England, are so sacred in the history of the
struggle for human liberty as Valley Forge."
— CVRUS TOWNSEND BrADY.
PHILADELPHIA : Press of J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
1910
•^>^4^.MW^
Copyright, 1910
BY
James W. Riddle.
©CI.A268075
DEDICATION
AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR
TO THE MEMORY OF HIS BELOVED WIFE,
ANNA MARGARET SOWER RIDDLE, WHO DIED
AT VALLEY FORGE, APRIL, 25TH, 1909, AND
WHOSE BIRTH PLACE WAS FOUR MILES DIS-
TANT— CORNER STORES :: :: :: •.
PREFACE
THE purpose of the writer in the preparation of
this work, as indicated by its title, has been
to present in concise, yet attractive, and
convenient form the story of the Valley Forge en-
campment in its Revolutionary setting; with it, a de-
scriptive account of the Memorial park with its objects
of interest, and a summary of important historical and
topographical facts respecting the village itself. The
sources of information consulted have been numerous
and varied, and when quotation is made from these, due
credit is invariably given. Special effort has been made
to gain access to original papers and documents, and in
local matters of modern date consultation has been
sought with intelligent citizens. The work of research,
instead of a task, has been a delightful recreation, and
the author's thanks are due to all who in any way have
contributed to make it fruitful. One embarrassment,
not unlooked for, has been met with in the work, namely:
the encounter of numerous discrepant and often conflict-
ing statements relative to matters and questions of fact,
rendering it difficult for one to reach a definite or fixed
conclusion. Where reasonable effort to discover the
truth in such cases has appeared unavailing, the con-
flicting information is given, and the reader is left to his
own conclusion or personal investigation.
The subject matter of the book, it will be noted, is
introduced under two sections. The first is arranged
for rapid or hasty reading, while the second, with a sys-
tern of ready reference, is intended to furnish supple-
mentary information, and may be perused at leisure.
It is not claimed for the work that it is free from mis-
take or error. It would be a marvel if it were so; but the
desire is to make it, in future editions at least, as com-
plete and trustworthy a compendium of important facts
relative to Valley Forge as it is possible to present; and
the author will gladly, and gratefully, welcome from any
source any suggestion by way of correction or improve-
ment that may occur to the intelligent reader.
That the book as it goes forth may help to swell the
tide of public interest in Valley Forge, and the greater
tide of national patriotism is the one desire and humble
hope of
The Author.
BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION I.
Valley Forge — How Reached — Romantic Location — Oddity of
Name — The Village — The Encampment — Chart and Description of
Camp — Location of Brigades — Number of Troops — The Commander-in-
Chief — Hut-Building — Scarcity of Supplies — Hardship and Suffering
— Disease and Death — Lights and Shadows — Camp Sport and Merri-
ment— A Gala Day — Religious Services — Camp Routine — Picket and
Guard Duty — Mrs. Washington in Camp^Coming of Spring — Watching
THE Enemy — Breaking of Camp, June 19.
The Village and the Park — Points and Objects of Interest in
Each — What to see in the Village — Washington's Headquarters —
Washington Inn — The Old Forge (Reproduced) — Site of Artificers
Camp — Steuben's Headquarters, etc.
What to see in the Park — Entrenchments — Forts — Monuments —
Camp School House — Hospital and Soldier Huts (Reproduced) — Bake
Ovens — Soldiers' Graves — General's Headquarters — Memorial
Chapel — Mount Joy Observatory, etc 13-52
SECTION II.
A PREFATORY SUGGESTION.
Condition of Country in Revolutionary Period — Population,
Transportation, Postal Facilities, Newspapers, Agriculture, Manu-
factures, etc. 53-58
MOVEMENTS OF THE ARMY JUST PRIOR TO THE
ENCAMPMENT
Whitemarsh — Skirmish with the British— Gulph Mills — Snow
Storm — Arrival at Valley Forge 58-60
LIFE IN THE CAMP.
Address to the Troops — A Bit of Good News — Hut, Fortification,
AND Bridge Building — The Daily Ration — The Sutlery — A Camp
Store — The Reveille — Guard Mount — The Artificers, Pioneers,
Sappers and Miners — Having A Good Time — Law Breaking — pRovosf
Guard — Court Martial — Punishment — Flogging — Sparks from the
Camp Fires — List of Generals and other Notables in Camp — Mc-
Intosh's Headquarters, etc 60—82
DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS.
Lack of Food and Clothing — Plain Talk by Washington to Con-
gress— Sickening Revelations — Resolution and Fortitude — Small-pox
AND Fever — Hospitals and Relief Work, etc 83-90
VILLAGE LANDMARKS NOW OBLITERATED.
The Old Forge — The Gun Factory, (Musketry Then and Now) —
Grist and Saw Mills — The Paper Mill — Shoddy Factory — Brew
House, etc 90-101
SIDE-LIGHT FACTS AND ITEMS.
Washington's Career in Brief — An Eloquent Tribute — The Con-
way Cabal — Birth-Day Anniversary — Mrs. Washington — Dining the
Officers — Meal-Time in one of the Huts — Favorite War Horse —
Father of His Country — Visits the Old Camp Ground in 1787 — Patriot-
ism of the Women — British Engineer's Journal — A Stunning News-
paper Report — Oath of Allegiance — Little Burr — ^The Navy in 1776 —
Length and Cost of the War, and Number of Troops Enlisted,
ETC 102-120
DEVELOPMENT OF THE VALLEY FORGE IDEA.
Miss Thropp — Centennial Celebration — Monumental and Memo-
rial Associations — P. O. S. of A. — Park Commission, etc ; with Numer-
ous Additional Facts and Incidents gathered from Original
Sources 121-126
Index ..... 127-13°
SECTION ONE
VALLEY FORGE
THE super-eminent distinction of Valley Forge
lies in the fact that in the American Revolu-
tion it was the winter quarters of Washington
and his patriot army in the trying winter of 1777-8.
The encampment was for a period of exactly six
months, from the 19th of December to the 19th of June.
It is the story of this encampment, with its harrowing
details of hardship and suffering, that has given to the
locality its unique place in American history, and clothed
it with patriotic interest wide-spread and enduring as the
nation itself.
Here no battle was fought, here no cruel ravages
were wrought by onslaught of the enemy, but the trials
endured and the human life here sacrificed on the altar
of liberty during this, the most crucial period of the war
for American Independence, render it eminently fitting,
in history as in song, that the place should be extolled
and venerated as:
The Nation's Shrine"
HOW REACHED
To Valley Forge from Philadelphia the distance by
road is about 21 miles; by rail it is 24, the railway follow-
ing the windings of the Schuylkill river. The route for
pedestrians, and persons going by private conveyance,
is by way of the Lancaster pike through Overbrook,
Bryn Mawr and Gulph Mills. The route by rail is over
the Philadelphia & Reading road from the Reading
Terminal.
The regular fare, single trip, is 58 cents, but excur-
sion tickets at a less rate are obtainable during the sum-
mer season.
From Norristown the distance is about 8 miles.
From Phoenixville, which lies beyond Valley Forge, the
distance is 5 miles.
A trolley company, named the '* Phoenixville, Valley
Forge, (Bridgeport) & Strafford Electric Railway Co."
(the name indicating its route), is just completing its
line as far as Valley Forge, and expects in the near
future to have cars running over its entire route. When
this is accomplished Valley Forge will be made easily
accessible from all parts of the surrounding territory.
The trolley route from Philadelphia will then be via
69th and Market Streets, Strafford, and King of Prussia;
or, via Chestnut Hill, Norristown, Bridgeport, and
King of Prussia.
ROMANTIC LOCATION
The place is picturesquely situated near the mouth
of Valley Creek, where the latter, after coursing for more
than a mile amid wooded hills and through deep ravines,
loses itself in the waters of the Schuylkill river.
A mill-dam thrown across the stream near the center
of the village adds to the impressive scenery by the crea-
tion of a diminutive lake, an artificial gem, whose strik-
ing beauty is made complete by the romantic charm of
the lofty hills which seem to encase it on every side.
In the accompanying view of the lake, looking south-
RIDDLE S LANDING
ward from Riddle's Landing, Chester Co. side, Mt. Joy
appears on the left, Mt. Misery on the right — names
given to these hills not from camp experiences of the.
Revolutionary soldier, nor at the time of the encamp-
ment, but long prior. The tradition is, that in the early
days of the colony, while a party of explorers were en-
camped for a time near by on the bank of the Schuylkill,
15
two of the party lost their way in these hills, and after
stumbling and blundering all night amid the wilds of
the one on the right, towards morning they crossed the
creek, ascended the other, and from the top, through an
opening, just as the sun was rising, caught joyous sight
of their camp. This mountain they called Mt. Joy, that
on the other side of the creek, Mt. Misery. It is said that
one of the party was no less distinguished a person than
William Penn, the Proprietor of the Colony.
ODDITY OF NAME
The encampment and place received their name, as
is generally known, from the existence near by of a small
forge in the time of the Revolution — not a forge in the
sense of a smithy, or blacksmith shop, as some have
inferred (although some smithy work no doubt was per-
formed in it), but a small mill in which, by the old-time
refining process, pig iron was changed into wrought iron,
and put into shape for the varied uses of commerce. It
was one of a considerable number of its class at that
time in operation in the colony. This forge stood, as is
generally conceded, on the western, or Chester Co., side
of the creek, about five-eights of a mile from its mouth,
where the site is still pointed out. ^ It was built not later
than 1 75 1, probably by Daniel Walker. It was owned
and operated at the time of the Revolution by David
Potts and William Dewees. It was burned about Septem-
ber 23d by British soldiers in a raid through the place,
as a portion of Howe's troops on their way from French
Creek (Phoenixville) crossed the Schuylkill at Fatland
ford and proceeded thence toward Philadelphia.^ This
*See pages 30 and 90. ^ Page 102.
16
was nearly three months before the Washington encamp-
ment. It was formerly known as Mt. Joy forge, belong-
ing, as it did, to the Mt. Joy Manor, but before the Revo-
lution it had come naturally to be designated as Valley
Forge, from its location on Valley Creek. After its
destruction by the British it was never rebuilt.
THE PRESENT VILLAGE
The village practically has but two streets, the old
Gulph road, which dates from before the Revolution, run-
ning east and west, and the Valley Creek road, built in
1 83 1, which crosses the Gulph road at right angles in the
heart of the village, and follows the course of the creek.
Half the village is in Schuylkill township, Chester
Co., the other half in Upper Merion township, Mont-
gomery Co., Valley Creek being the dividing line. A
stone bridge spans the stream a hundred yards west of
the intersection of the two roads; and in the middle of
the bridge on either side may be observed a stone which
marks the county line.
The present population is between three and four hun-
dred. The village, considerably scattered, contains
about fifty dwelling houses, three hotels, three churches,
two schoolhouses, a P. O. S. of A. hall, with public library,
two general stores, a souvenir shop, a barber shop, a
woolen yarn factory, a blacksmith shop, a sand-stone
crusher, an establishment for bottling spring water, a
post office, and the railway station. The post office is in
Chester County, the railway station in Montgomery Co,
Among its buildings are many ancient and quaint-
looking stone structures, some of which date back to the
period of the Revolution. Some, however, which are
17
represented on current post cards as "Old Barracks,"
date no farther back than the early half of the last century.
At the time of the encampment the neighborhood
naturally was but sparsely settled. The encampment
was located on the surrounding hills, principally in
Montgomery County, but extending into Chester County
on the south and west.
THE ENCAMPMENT
The troops under the immediate command of
General Washington were those comprised in what
was designated as the Middle department of the
PLAN OF WORKS OF THE VALLEY FORGE ENCAMPMENT.
Continental Army — the Northern and Southern
departments being commanded separately by generals
appointed to the position by Congress, but subject to
the Commander-in-Chief.
In all respects Washington's was the department
preeminent.
In emphasis of this in addressing his men on one
occasion he said : " The General wishes the troops to
19
consider that this is the Grand American Army and
that of course great things are expected of it."
OUTLINE OF ENCAMPMENT
In "Futhey and Cope's History of Chester County"
is 2;iven the following outline description of the encamp-
ment:
"The encampment was partly in Tredyffrin town-
ship, the line between Chester and Montgomery Coun-
ties running through the encampment. The headquar-
ters of Lafayette, Wayne, Knox and Woodford were in
Tredyffrin, as was also the camps of the forces of Wayne
and Scott, and a part of Woodford's and Poor's.
The encampment was about two miles in length, its
eastern extremity resting near the present site of Port
Kennedy; and stretching in a semi-circle to the north-
west as far as the Gulph road were the Brigades of
Muhlenberg, Patterson, Learned, Weeden and Glover.
Continuing w^est of the road were the Brigades of Poor,
Wayne and Scott. North of the intersection of two small
roads was General Woodford, and a short distance from
him was stationed Knox's Artillery. From Knox par-
allel with Valley Creek extended a line of entrenchments
from which abatis stretched to the east to a point near
the ford now known as Sullivan's Crossing. The cross-
ing was defended by a large star-shaped redoubt, and
below this redoubt was placed the command ot General
Varnum. Between the abatis and a line of redoubts on
the north were Huntington, Maxwell, and Conway.
The Brigade of Mcintosh ' and Washington's Life
Guards were stationed in the northwest portion of the
^Page io8.
camp, below Valley Creek, on an eminence near the
river. West of the creek near the Schuylkill were the
Artificers. Excluding the last-named detachment, which
was in the present Schuylkill township, the camp was
bounded on the east and north by the Schuylkill river,
on the south and west by a range of hills, and on the west
by Valley Creek."
The winter of 1777-8 was one of unusual severity,
and by the 19th of December, which marked the arrival
of the troops at Valley Forge, the severe weather had
already set in.^
With only tents in the meantime to shelter them from
wintry wind and snow, and with but scant supply of
blankets and clothing^, the men nevertheless orave them-
selves heroically to the work of establishing their quarters.
The first undertaking was not, as one might imagine,
the fortification of the camp against approach from the
enemy, but the more humane one — the erection of log
cabins or huts to take the place as speedily as possible
of the cheerless tents for the men; the throwing up of
entrenchments and the construction of earth forts and
redoubts for the defence of the encampment came later. ^
Prizes were offered'to the soldiers by the Commander-
in-Chief for rapid construction, and best method of
roofing, and everything was done to stimulate activity
in the work.^
The huts, 14 x 16 feet in dimensions, were made to
accommodate 12 private soldiers, and were arranged
in rows, or streets. The oflSicers were housed in similar
quarters, but with less crowding, according to their
rank, the generals each having a hut to himself. Each
^Page 106. ^Page 64. ^Page 107.
21
hut had a fireplace with log and clay chimney at the end
opposite the entrance, and the bunks were arranged on
the sides in tiers. Two small windows, with oiled paper
for glass, admitted the light. The chinks between the
logs were filled with clay, or mortar.
Straw, supported by stakes or poles, was the material
principally used for roofing, but it was hard to obtain,
and for a time the use of the tents for roof-covering was
PARK GUARD HOUSE
resorted to. Straw also was needed as bedding- for the
bunks, and in order to secure an adequate supply Wash-
ington was obliged to issue an order to the farmers of the
surrounding territory, requiring them to complete the
work of threshing their grain before a specified time,
otherwise the grain would be forcibly taken for the Army's
use and settled for only as straw.
The erection of seven or eight hundred such huts,
with many larger buildings for Commissary, Artificer,
and hospital purposes, together with suitable stabling
for the horses, was the task to which the half-clad, half-
provisioned men were obliged to apply themselves — a
task which lingered on their hands through half the
dreary winter.^
A smoke nuisance, resulting from the burning of
wood in the many fires of the camp, was the cause of
serious annoyance much of the time, affecting unfavor-
ably not only the eyes and throats of the soldiers, but
their patience and temper as well. The prevalence,
moreover, of bad sanitary conditions, unavoidable except
by the most rigid enforcement of camp regulations, was
a menace still more serious.
Sickness and disease, including fever and small-pox,
soon invaded the camp, and death, with the solemn
military burial ceremony, became an every-day occur-
rence. Fully 3000, it is estimated, died during the six
months of the encampment.
At the beginning of this period fourteen brigades of
troops, representing a maximum of 17,000 men, were
encamped within the lines. The precise number was
11,089, of which at that time 2898, according to Wash-
ington's report to Congress, December 23d, "were unfit
For duty, because they were barefoot and otherwise
naked." As weeks wore on the number of men fit for
service was still further reduced by exposure, lack of
provisions, desertion, sickness and death to the pitiable
figure of 5012.^
THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
To form some conception of the burden which rested
Upon the mind and heart of the Commander-in-Chief
1 Page 72. 2 Pages 83-89.
during the progress of these months of toil, hardship,
and suffering, requires but Httle briUiancy of imagination.
Always profoundly sympathetic in his attitude to-
ward his men, his sympathy during these dark days was
rendered the keener, and its reciprocal effect the weightier,
from a sense of his inability to furnish needed relief.
GEORGE WASHINGTON
When we have added to this the strain of his multi-
tudinous and diversified official labors, what he endured
from the criminal apathy and inaction of Congress, the
blundering stupidity of the Commissary Department,
the malignity of private and public criticism, the out-
cropping of bitter envy and jealousy in some of his sub-
ordinate officers, the secret hatching of high-handed
conspiracy to deprive him of the Army's command, and
24
other causes of aggravation quite as noteworthy, there
is given us some conception of the by no means envi-
able task v^hich during these six months constituted the
lot of Gen. Washington.
It is here also, as v^e witness his patient, placid and
resolute spirit in the midst of it all, that we catch a glimpse
of the colossal stature of the man, soldier and statesman,
in whom were centered the hopes and fortune of the
United States in the struggle for independence.^
LIGHTS AND SHADOWS
But the picture, though a dark one, had its lights as
well'as shadows.
The men had their seasons of out-door sport and
recreation, and not infrequently some private hut was
the scene of uproarious merriment and boisterous hilarity.
Innocent games were encouraged for amusement, and
while cards and dice were forbidden, as leading to gamb-
ling, other means were found or invented with which to
while away in pleasure the hours in which the men were
not on duty, or taking their needed rest. The officers
also had their fetes and entertainments, the few ladies
of the camp, conspicuously the wives of Generals Knox
and Greene, contributing their share to the brilliancy and
success of such occasions. Washington and his wife were
sometimes present at these as guests of honor. By visiting
the huts, also, and ministering in various ways to the needs
of the sick and unfortunate men, these good ladies, with
Martha Washington in the lead, while in camp, did
much to relieve the gloom and hardship of the dreary
winter.
^Page 117.
The camp also now and then had its gala days, or
days of great general rejoicing. Such was the 5th of
May, when the news reached camp that France had
acknowledged the independence of the young republic,
and had formed with her a treaty of commerce and
friendly alliance. As the news spread through the en-
campment loud and prolonged shouts and cheers shook
the forests that shrouded the hills; and the day following,
a day set apart for special thanksgiving to Almighty God
in honor of the event, salutes were fired, and by direction
of the Commander-in-Chief the whole army shouted:
"Huzzah for the King of France!"
The coming of spring with its genial weather had the
effect also of infusing new heart and hope into both men
and officers, and in spite of the sickness and death that
prevailed in the weeks that followed life in camp took on
a more cheery aspect. Men who for lack of blankets
and clothing had been obliged at times to sit up all night
by the fire, to keep from freezing, might now be seen
knocking the clay or mortar from the chinks between
the logs of their huts to let in the warm air; while picket
service and the usual round of out-door duty, no longer
a dreaded task, became a welcome exercise. <-
EVACUATION
From the middle of May the troops were held subject
to marching orders contingent upon the movements of
the enemy. Finally on the i8th of June report reached
headquarters that Gen. Clinton and his troops (Howe
having been recalled) were evacuating Philadelphia,
and on that and the following day Washington,
who had been anticipating such a move, broke camp
26
and with his entire army started in pursuit.^ Crossing
the Schuylkill at Fatland ford and Sullivan's bridge,
they pushed hastily toward the city, arriving there as
the last of the British were making their way across the
Delaware towards Gloucester. Thus came to an end
the notable winter's encampment at Valley Forge.
In less than ten days also came the vigorous blow
given by Washington to Clinton's army on the plains of
Monmouth, N. J., making the 28th of June, 1778, a day
memorable in the annals of freedom, inspiring the colonies
with renewed confidence and hope, and incidentally de-
monstrating that the crucial experiences of the army dur-
ing the six months' encampment with its opportunity for
military training had not been without disciplinary effect.
iPage 81.
PARK AND VILLAGE
THE land upon which the main part of the
Encampment was located is now State prop-
erty, having been acquired piece at a time,
the first in 1893, and under the direction and super-
vision of a special Commission appointed June 8,
1893, has been formed into a public reservation, en-
titled: "The Valley Forge Park." This is situated
chiefly on the highlands on the eastern, or Montgomery
side of Valley Creek, It comprises about 500 acres,
taking in the old forts, entrenchments, etc., and con-
tains about 15 or 20 miles of fine roadway and
boulevard, which through winding and diversified route
directs the course of the visitor to the various points
and objects of interest, treating him the while to a mag-
nificent panorama of landscape view and vista which it
were impossible adequately to describe. The polite
park guard, also, in grey uniform, may be found at every
turn in the way to give direction or information to pedes-
trian or other visitor.
ENTRANCE TO PARK
Entrance may be made to the Park either by way of
the boulevard leading directly up the hill eastward from
the railway station, where a memorial arch may soon be
erected (;^ioo,ooo having been recommended for this and
another to Congress, February, 19 10), or by going west-
ward a square, which brings the visitor to Washington's
28
headquarters and Valley Green, thence southward a
square to Washington Inn and the Old Forge in the
heart of the Village, thence up the hill eastward by way
of the Gulph Road, the route of the trolley.
Coaches during the summer season are always in
waiting at the station on the arrival of trains; but should
the visitor prefer, a coach for the present may be dis-
pensed with, until a great deal has been taken in which
can be easily and more satisfactorily seen on foot. A
carriage if desired may then be procured for the trip
through the Park, obtainable at the station or the
Washington Inn.
The latter course is especially recommended to
visitors who wish to see the most, and obtain a satisfac-
tory idea of the place in a limited time.
WHAT TO SEE IN THE VILLAGE
Under the head of points and objects of interest in
the Village the following are specially noted:
The Valley Green, The Mansion House,
Washington's Headquarters, The Baptist Church,
The Washington Inn, Steuben's Headquarters,
The Old Forge, Colonial Springs,
Site of the Artificers' Camp, Old Woolen Mill,
The p. O. S. of A. Hall, Valley Forge Inn,«
The Post Office, The Washington Spring,
The Methodist Church, Old Forge Site.
THE VALLEY GREEN
Or Recreation Ground, comprising several acres
extending along, and including, the Valley Creek, from
the railroad arch near its mouth southward to the stone
bridge on Gulph road — added to the Park in 1909.
29
WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS
Facing directly on the Valley Green at its northern
entrance, and near the station — a well-preserved two
and a half story stone building with kitchen addition — was
the home in Revolutionary times of Isaac Potts/ who
invited General Washington to occupy it as his head-
quarters after he had been quartered for a time in an army
tent or markee — ^was built not later than 1758 — contains
the original doors, windows, locks, etc., and some relics.
Open daily, Sunday included, from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Admission free. A care-taker will be found in waiting to
direct the visitor and answer his innumerable questions.
THE WASHINGTON INN
Facing the green at its southern entrance on the
Gulph road — was for many years the private residence
of the Rogers family — converted into a hotel in 1878 —
includes a small building which stood on the site during
the Encampment, known as the *' bake-house," where
large quantities of bread were baked for the soldiers.
It was at that time probably the residence of Colonel
Dewees. The old part constitutes the hotel dining room.
The bake-ovens were in the cellar, and were removed
only a few years ago. The hotel is noted for its unrivalled
entertainment. See page 51.
THE OLD FORGE
Is situated a stone's throw west of the Washington
Inn, on the Gulph road, at the western end of the bridge.
It is a reproduction in accordance with available data;
is on private property; erected as a matter of public
interest, and with patriotic ceremony was thrown open
^Page]io9.
30
to the public July 4, 1907. It is built entirely of
materials taken from an old Revolutionary ruin, and
contains a facsimile reproduction of the old-time machin-
ery. Admission is free. The original forge from which
the place derived its name stood half a mile farther up on
the same side of the creek. This v^as destroyed in a raid
by British soldiers nearly three months before the Wash-
ington Encampment, and was never rebuilt.^
SITE OF ARTIFICERS' CAMP ^
This was the strip of ground on the western, or
Chester Co., side of the creek, extending northward from
the foothills back of the Old Forge to the railroad or
Schuylkill river. The soldiers' huts were on the eleva-
tions, the work-shops in the valley. The artificers were
the soldier artisans or mechanics and with the sappers
and miners, worked in conjunction with the army engi-
neers. Here near the Old Forge, on both sides of the
Gulph road, stood their work-shops. Here plans and
materials for the army's emergency work were devel-
oped, here their wagons, cannon and muskets were
repaired, and their horses shod.
On this plot of ground, in the rear of the Old Forge,
may be observed the ruins of the Brooke Evans Gun
Factory, established in 1821, from which twenty thou-
sand muskets were manufactured. Though not a Revo-
lutionary memento, it is an object of local interest.^
THE P. O. S. OF A. HALL
Situated diagonally across the way westward trom
the Old Forge, a comparatively modern building, erected
^Pagego. "Page 78. ^Page94.
32
in 1874, containing suitable rooms for the use of the
Order, and a hall for public gatherings. The latter also
furnishes house room for the "Mathews Free Library,"
estabhshed in 1895 through the benefactions of the
E. J. Mathews family, former owners of the Valley
Forge farm. The library contains about 800 volumes,
and is open Tuesday evenings.^ The building is also
the recognized headquarters of the Valley Forge "Fife
and Drum Corps."
THE POST OFFICE
The first building on the left up the road westward —
for many years the home of the Thropp family. At first
it contained but two rooms, built not later than 1815
by John Workizer. Isaiah Thropp, son-in-law of Mr.
Workizer, obtained the place in 1822 and used it partly
as a store, the first in the village. Here he continued
business successfully for fifty years, and reared a large
and honorable family. In the meantime, the house was
enlarged by him to its present proportions. Later the
building on the right of the store was bought by Mr.
Thropp and used as the family residence.
THE METHODIST CHURCH
A small stone building about a square beyond the
Post Office, erected in 1837 — lot given by Isaiah Thropp.
Church formed in 1836 — first preacher probably Rev.
D. Shields, who preached for the M. E. Church at
Phoenixville in 1839, and the year following.
THE MANSION HOUSE
Situated two or three hundred yards beyond the
M. E. Church, on the opposite, or north, side of the
^Page 113.
33
road — used as a hospital during the Encampment —
was the home of the Workizer family and a wayside inn
— was then two and a half stories high, and two-thirds
its present size — original building included on first floor
what is now the dining room, kitchen and bar. It con-
tains some original woodwork, hinges, locks, etc. The
eastern end was erected in 1850, and the mansard roof
added in 1875. Under its present owner it continues to
afford comfortable entertainment for man and beast.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
A Stone structure of recent date, erected in 1901 on
site of former building built in 1835. Contains in outside
walls some interesting memorial tablets. On one of
these is given the following extract from Washington's
letter to the Baptists, written in May, 1789, just after
his election to the Presidency of the Nation.
"The Baptists throughout America have been uni-
formly and almost unanimously the firm friends of civil
liberty, and the persevering promoters of the glorious
Revolution."
The Church was organized at the Valley Forge
School-house, June 29, 1834, with thirty-one members.
Rev. S. Seigfreid preaching from Acts xxvi, 28. Its first
pastor was Rev. J. G. Collam. The ground, one acre,
for lot and grave-yard was donated by John Workizer.
The little log house across the way, as near as can be
learned, was built not earlier than 1840.
The two roads diverging near this point lead each to
Phoenixville (French Creek), about four miles distant,
the left-hand road leading by way of Williams' Corners.
The trolley line follows the latter route to Williams'
34
Corners and thence runs to Phoenixville by way of
Corner stores.
Following the right-hand, or Gulph, road the tourist,
when within a mile or more of Phoenixville, will pass on
the right "Bull Tavern" and *' Moore Hall"; and in
Phoenixville, at the intersection of this road (Nutt's Ave.)
with Bridge St., will come to "Fountain Inn." All three
are places of historic interest in connection with the
Encampment. All at present are used as private resi-
dences, and to some extent have been transformed.
STEUBEN'S HEADQUARTERS
Reached by taking the road just east of the Metho-
dist Church, and following it up into the glen about a
quarter of a mile — forms a part of the home of General
B. F. Fisher, a large Gothic brick building that sits con-
spicuously on the slope of the mountain. The original
house known for many years as the Slab Tavern was a
small two-story stone structure about fifteen feet square,
and now constitutes a rear portion of the present building.
At first Von Steuben's quarters were in a camp hut
on the Montgomery Co. side, in connection with which
an interesting incident is told of the General's butler.
The morning after the arrival in camp of the distinguished
soldier and his attendants, the chef, having asked to be
shown the kitchen in order that he might prepare break-
fast, was directed to an open space in the rear of the hut
where a fire-place had been erected with a few stones,
over which hung one or two smoky iron pots. When
told this was the kitchen, the haughty butler, without
regard to ceremony, straightway surrendered his job,
and gathering together his belongings decamped at once
for more civilized regions. Steuben says he left him with
35
the remark that :** where he had nothing on which to
display his art it was of no consequence who pulled the
string" — meaning the cord of the spit. The incident
may have had its weight in leading the General to look
up more desirable quarters, and finally to decide upon
the little house in the glen on the Chester Co. side?.
THE COLONIAL SPRINGS
Situated directly across the run from Steuben's
headquarters — famous springs from which in the moun-
COLONIAL SPRINGS
tain's side have bubbled forth a copious stream of pure
and sparkling water since long before the recollection of
the oldest inhabitant — formerly styled the "Goodfyr
Springs," from the idea of the neighboring inhabitants
that its waters were good for the correction of a number of
human ailments, particularly kidney affections. The
chemical analysis shows it to be an absolutely pure water;
and in 1900 a company was formed whojieased the
36
property, and have since been bottling and shipping the
water in large quantities for private delivery in Philadel-
phia. Visitors are alw^ays w^elcome, and will be amply
repaid by a visit to the place.
THE OLD WOOLEN MILL
Situated below the dam on the east, or Montgomery
Co., side of the creek. The building was commenced
in 1814 by John Rogers and Joshua Malin, cousins, and
was used for a time as an establishment for the manu-
facture of hardware, including saws, files, shovels, spades,
etc. Afterwards, about 1820, it was enlarged by Mr.
Rogers and converted into a cotton mill. Later it was
again enlarged, this time by Charles H. Rogers, son of
John Rogers, and changed into a woolen mill. During
the Civil War cloth and blankets were manufactured in
it for the Union Army. Prior to 1882 Isaac Smith was
for many years the successful operator. From the latter
date till 1909 the mill remained idle. It is now occu-
pied for the manufacture of woolen yarn. The present
dam was built in 1906, the one prior to that having
been down and washed away for a number of years.
VALLEY FORGE INN
Across the road from the rnill — built about 1850 —
first occupied as a wholesale and retail liquor place —
afterwards, till the closing of the mill, in 1882, as a general
store, kept for many years by John Rowan. In 1909 it
was remodeled and converted to its present use. Con-
nected with this place, on the adjoining hill-top, is a
private picnic ground, and boats for pleasure are kept
on the lake.
37
THE WASHINGTON SPRING
About half a mile up the creek from the mill — a
resort especially for the sentimentalist, made doubly
attractive since 1908 by the artistic work of the Park
Commission. From the guard house near the spring
a convenient path leads up the hillside through the
THE WASHINGTON SPRING
clearing to the boulevard on the summit, bringing the
tourist in close proximity to Fort Washington and the
Mount Joy Observatory.
OLD FORGE SITE
A hundred or more yards beyond the spring, but on
the opposite side of the creek. ^ The walk or drive around
the lake is one of the most inviting and picturesque to be
found in the neighborhood.
^ Pages 90-94.
38
WHAT TO SEE IN THE PARK
With markers everywhere conspicuously placed
throughout the grounds to direct the visitor to the various
points and objects of interest, and with the polite Park
guard in evidence at every turn in the way ready to
impart information for the asking, but little more would
seem to be necessary here than that a list be furnished
of the more important objects to be visited, with their
general location indicated, and such information or
comment added as the case may require.
The Most Important Things to See Are:
The Entrenchments, Camp School House,
Fort Washington Soldier Huts (Reproduced),
Fort Huntington Varnum's and Knox's HEAoquARTERS,
Star Redoubt, Hospital Hut,
Waterman Monument, Bake Ovens,
Wayne Monument, Soldiers' Graves.
A visit should also be made to the Washington Me-
morial Chapel, and last, but not least, time and strength
should be reserved for climbing the steps of the Mount
Joy Observatory.
If entrance is made to the Park by way of the boule-
vard leading up from the station, in ascending the hill,
a magnificent view is obtained of the river with the region
beyond, while the camp site of Washington's Life Guard
will be passed on the hill-side at the right. ^
THE ENTRENCHMENTS
Are reached on the crest of the hill, and may be readily
traced. They consist of a ditch or trench, originally
about 6 feet wide, 3 feet deep, with mound about 4 feet
^Page 76.
39
in height. Two Hnes of these, an inner and outer, par-
tially encircled the Encampment. The trench was con-
structed, in places at least, with stakes or pikes projecting
outward from the mound, and with an abatis of brush,
stumps, etc., extending the distance of extreme musket
range in front. The inner line will appear again and
again in following the boulevard. Persons wishing to
visit the Waterman monument and the Memorial Chapel
at this stage will take the Port Kennedy road leading to
the left. In doing so, near Fort Huntington
THE PARK PICNIC GROUNDS
Will appear on the right. In the latter, every pro-
vision has been made by the Park Commission for the
comfort and enjoyment of parties, large or small, who
come to the Park for a day's outing and self-entertain-
ment. Regret will be felt, however, especially by per-
sons with little children or heavy baskets, that the
location of the grounds is not more convenient to the
trolley or railway station.
FORT HUNTINGTON
Is one of the principal forts of the camp, and happily
little has been done to it in the way of attempted restora-
tion. The traverse is lOO feet in length, while the top
of the earthwork in some places is 20 feet from the bot-
tom of the fosse. Nearby on the hill-side was the site of
Huntington's brigade.
VARNUM'S HEADQUARTERS
Also on the right, is but a short distance beyond — a
stone structure, two and a half stories in height, but now
40
considerably changed and enlarged from the original
building. On both sides of the road were the huts of
Varnum's brigade.
THE STAR REDOUBT
Is reached a few hundred yards farther beyond on
the left. It was a small earth fort erected chiefly to cover
the approach from the other side of the Schuylkill by
way of Fatland ford and Sullivan's bridge, a short dis-
tance directly opposite. The crossing by way of the
ford was to the upper end of Jenkins' island, down the
island to the lower end, and thence to the other side.
At the lower end was Sullivan's bridge. The ford and
bridge were reached by a road, now a lane, leading to
the left, the continuation of Washington Lane, but not
open to the public.
WATERMAN MONUMENT
Is situated a short distance beyond the redoubt on
the right. It is a plain granite shaft, 50 feet in height,
erected by the Daughters of the Revolution to the mem-
ory of the soldiers who died at Valley Forge, near the
site of a stone which marks the grave of John Water-
man, the only known grave on the Encampment. On
the plinth in front is the following inscription: "To
the Soldiers Of Washington's Army Who Sleep At Valley
Forge, 1777-78. Erected By The Daughters Of The
Revolution." On the reverse side the following: "Near
This Spot Lies Lieutenant John Waterman. Died April
23, 1778, Whose Grave Alone Of All His Comrades Was
Marked." The monument was unveiled and dedicated
October 19, 1901, the ground upon which it stands having
been donated by the late I. Heston Todd.
THE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL
Stands a few rods distant on the opposite side of the
road from the monument in the edge of the grove. It is
a building of elaborate architectural design, being erected
by the Protestant Episcopal denomination: "In memory
WATERMAN MONUMENT
of Washington and Patriot Churchmen who served their
country in the struggle for liberty."
The style of architecture of the main building is per-
pendicular Gothic. The architects were Field and
43
Medary, of Philadelphia. The first service in the Chapel
was held on Washington's birthday, 1905. When com-
pleted it will be a memorial worthy of the great denom-
ination in which Washington, as is claimed, was a regular
communicant.
The plan of the Chapel includes a group of buildings,
among which is a Patriot's Hall, marked by a number of
unique features. A start also has been made in the way
of collectino- historical documents and relics as the foun-
o
dation of a library and museum. Service is held in the
building every Sunday. During the summer season it is
open every day of the week, and visitors are cordially
welcomed.
Rev. W. Herbert Burk, of Norristown, is the minister
in charge, and to his efforts largely the credit is due for
the work that has been accomplished.
To the left of the Chapel in the woods the fac-simile
of a Camp Hut will be noted with interest. It was the
first of the hut reproductions erected, and was built by
the Daughter's of the Revolution in May, 1905; dedicated
June 24th. The site was presented by I. Heston Todd,
and is presumed to be the location of one of the huts of
Varnum's brigade. Many of the guardhouses throughout
the Park are modeled after the same plan.
The visitor who has come thus far over the route we
have taken, will now, in order to see the remaining and
principal portion of the Encampment, be obliged to
retrace his steps to the boulevard we left prior to reaching
Fort Huntington, and to follow the boulevard up around
the hill to the left.
From the crest of the hill another view of Fort Hunt-
ington, with the Waterman Monument in the distance,
44
may be had, and from thence five minutes' walk will
bring us to the Gulph road at its intersection with the
boulevard.
This point is the one at which entrance to the Park
is made from the village by the other route — the route
adopted by the trolley — which passes up the Gulph road
from the bridge, near the Old Forge and Washington
Inn.^
CAMP SCHOOL HOUSE
May be viewed or visited from this point, going east-
ward. It is situated a few hundred yards down the Gulph
road on the right, at the intersection of this road with
Washington lane. It was built in 1705 — was used as a
hospital during the encampment, and was repaired and
put in its present condition by the Park Commission in
1907. The interior has been refitted, and furnished with
a fac-simile reproduction of the old-time furniture.
FORT WASHINGTON
Is reached by following the boulevard to the right at
the distance of cbout a quarter of a mile. This earth-
work has been restored in part by the Commission in
order that the visitor may obtain a correct idea of its
original appearance. It is not of large size, its longest
side being less than one hundred feet. The traverse, or
bank, which divides it into two parts, is about seventy-
five feet in length. This was one of the most important
defences of the Encampment as may be seen from its
location. The observation platforms, both here and at
Fort Huntington, are, of course, the work of the Commis-
iPage 28.
46
sion, having been added to give the visitor a satisfactory
view of the outhne of the earth-works.
MT. JOY OBSERVATORY
In close proximity to Fort Washington, may be con-
veniently visited from this point. It is a graceful iron
structure 75 feet in height, erected in 1906 on the summit
CAMP SCHOOL HOUSE
'*'^ Mount Joy. From the top of the observatory, which
>.s 'reached by 120 easy steps, a magnificent and extensive
view of the Park and of the surrounding country may be
had, which will more than pay for the trouble and exer-
tion of climbing.
To assist the visitor in correctly establishing his
bearings, a horizontal disk has been provided at the top,
47
giving a chart of the direction (with distance) of various
surrounding locahties of historic interest.
WAYNE MONUMENT
Situated another quarter of a mile away, may be
reached either by continuing to follow the right line
MT. JOY OBSERVATORY
boulevard, or, if the visitor be afoot, by taking the shorter
route down the hill past Fort Washington, and across the
field eastward. The monument is in the form of an
equestrian statue, of great merit, erected by the Com-
48
monwealth of Pennsylvania and dedicated June 20, 1908,
to one of her most distinguished sons who fought in the
Revolution. Anthony Wayne was born in Chester
County, Jan. i, 1745, and died Dec. 15, 1796. He was
Brigadier General in the Continental Army from Feb.
I, 1777, to Nov. 3, 1783; was appointed Major General
in 1783, and Commander-in-Chief of the United States
ANTHONY WAYNE MONUMENT
Army, May 5, 1792, remaining in command till the time
of his death. These facts, with others, are recorded on
the monument. Its cost, including dedicatory and other
expenses, was $35,000 — The sculptor was Mr. Henry
K. Bush-Brown. At the services of dedication Hon.
S. W. Pennypacker delivered the oration; and the Com-
50
mission appointed by the Legislature to have charge of
the work consisted of J. P. Nicholson, R. M. Cadwalader
and J. A. Herman.
The Hospital Hut (a reproduction), the Bake-ovens,
the Burying Ground, and other objects and places of
interest, will be found in the immediate vicinity of the
monument, to all of which the visitor's attention and
steps will be readily directed by the markers.
Should there be a desire to look upon the General
Knox Headquarters, and get a view of the Valley Forge
farm, the charming summer home of Secretary of State,
Philander C. Knox, the pleasure may conveniently be
enjoyed at this time, as they are but a short distance
away. The house known as the Lafayette Headquarters
is a little more distant in the same direction; but it should
be remembered that all of these are private property and
are not open to visitation by the public.
Should the visitor, after viewing the monument,
desire to go farther in the direction of Port Kennedy, a
number of objects, though of less importance, including
state markers, etc., will be found to gratify interest.
The conspicuous object in the distance having two
white pillars is the Pennsylvania marker erected on the
site of the Pennsylvania troops.
SECTION TWO
A PREFATORY SUGGESTION
AS an essential aid to a correct appreciation of
incidents and events in the Revolutionary
L period it is important that the reader should
to a certain extent endeavor to place himself in the
environment of those early days. A few facts, there-
fore, are here noted which may be helpful to the person
in obtaining an advantageous view point.
In the year 1776 the conceded domain of the United
States was not more than half a million square miles.
To-day it is nearly four million. Its population then was
about two and a half millions — in other words, about a
million more than the number of people now contained
within the limits of Philadelphia, at present the third
city in size in the Union. At that time Philadelphia's
population was about 25,000.
In Revolutionary times there were but few public
highways, and these generally were in poor condition.
Travel and transportation between distant points were
accomplished entirely by means of stage and pack-wagon,
drawn in most cases by mules and asses.
There were then not only no telegraphs or telephones,
but no railroads, no steamboats, no canals. These, with
all the later wonders in the development of applied
science, have come since that day. The first canals in
the United States, two very short ones, were constructed
in 1792. Navigation by steam, with Robert Fulton as
55
pioneer, began in 1807. His experimental boat, the
Clermont, 100 ft. long, 12 ft. in width and 7 in depth,
was announced to make the trip from New York to
Albany "against wind and tide" in 36 hours (about
4 miles an hour). The fare for the trip, including
"provisions, berth and accommodations," was $'j.oo.
The first railroad in the United States, three miles
in length, was completed in 1827, horse power being
used. The first locomotive came two years later. The
Phila. & Reading was built through Valley Forge in
1837, and was opened for traffic July 16, 1838.
In 1776 there were only 50 post-offices in the country.
Mails were very light, and were carried by postmen on
horseback, and sometimes on foot. That year authority
was given to employ extra post riders between the
armies from their headquarters to Philadelphia. Ben-
jamin Franklin was then Postmaster General, and the
accounts for the whole Post-Office Department for over
a year were contained in a small book composed of two
quires of foolscap, now kept as an interesting relic in the
archives at Washington.
The newspapers in existence at the beginning of the
war were few and small, and were issued weekly, semi-
weekly or tri-weekly. The first daily paper issued in
the country was the "American Daily Advertizer" —
what is now the "North American" — established in
Philadelphia in 1784, the year after the war closed. The
printing presses used were of the Franklin type, in which
the pressure force was applied by a screw, and the ink
by large balls. An expert workman on the machine
could produce about 50 impressions an hour. Books,
in consequence, were a rarity, while magazine literature
56
was undreamed of. Various political subjects were at
times discussed in pamphlets.
At the time of the Revolution teaching in the com-
mon schools was very meager, and remained so for thirty
years after. Only reading, spelling, and arithmetic were
regularly taught.
Wood was the material almost universally used for
fuel, and the tallow dip or sperm oil lamp was the only
means of illumination.
Until near the close of the war there were no banking
institutions in the United States. By that time the paper
money authorized by Congress had so depreciated that
the price of commodities and labor became almost
fabulous. A barrel of flour was sold for 20 pounds
Sterling, and a bushel of potatoes for 15 pounds. A
journeyman blacksmith was paid 8 pounds per day, and
the price for shoeing a horse all round was 4 pounds
($5.00 a shoe). The first bank in the United States,
the ''Bank of North America" was under such conditions
established in 178 1 as a financial aid to the Government.
In the sphere of agriculture a no less primitive condi-
tion of things prevailed. Indian corn, tobacco, wheat,
rye, oats, potatoes and hay were the staple articles of the
farm. The seed was sown and the whole crop harvested
by manual labor. The plow, harrow, and other imple-
ments used, were of the rudest kind. The hay was cut
with a scythe and turned and gathered with a hand rake
and wooden fork. The grain was cut with a sickle,
threshed with a flail, or the treading of horses, and win-
nowed by means of a large clam-shaped fan of wicker-
work manipulated in a gentle breeze. The cultivation
of cotton was in its infancy. In 1784 eight bales of cotton
57
sent to England from Charleston were seized by the
Custom House authorities in Liverpool, on the ground
that so large a quantity could not have come from the
United States. Whitney's invention of the cotton gin,
for separating the seed from the fiber, w^hich gave un-
paralleled impetus to the industry, occurred in 1792.
Our manufactures, also, were of slight importance.
The policy of England was to suppress manufacturing
in her American Colonies, so as to increase her impor-
tations.
The iron industry was confined to a dozen or two
furnaces and forges. Till after the war woolen and cotton
fabrics were manufactured largely in the home. The
hand carding device, the Irish or Dutch spinning-wheel,
and the hand loom, formed a part of the equipment of
every well-regulated household. In 1787 the first cotton-
mill in the country was built at Beverly, Mass., and a
little prior to 1791 a woolen mill was established at
Hartford, Conn.
At the beginning of the war Willcox's small establish-
ment near Philadelphia was the only paper-mill in the
country. He made our first writing paper, also the thick,
coarse paper on which the Continental money was
printed. By the close of the war, a demand for paper
having arisen in the meantime, two other mills had come
into existence.
Multitudes more of such items of interest might be
added, calculated to remind us that in contemplating
the incidents and events of the Encampment period one
must guard in many instances against considering or
measuring these from the view point of our Twentieth
Century civilization.
58
MOVEMENTS OF WASHINGTON'S ARMY
JUST PRIOR TO THE ENCAMPMENT
Washington took possession of Valley Forge for his
winter quarters December 19th, 1777.
A bird's-eye view of the movements of the army
during the three months or more prior to this date will
be of interest as forming a fitting prelude to the story of
the sixth months' encampment.
The battle of Brandywine, at Chadd's ford, resulting
from Washington's attempt to stay the advance of the
British upon Philadelphia from by way of the Chesa-
peake, took place September nth, 1777. Washington
in his retreat from Brandywine fell back on Philadelphia,
encamping at the Falls of Schuylkill; but, closely fol-
lowed by Howe's army, September .15th he moved up
the Schuylkill Valley as far as Matson's ford (Consho-
hocken), crossing here to the west side of the river, and,
lest Howe should intercept him, pushed rapidly along
the old Lancaster road in the direction of Swedes' ford
(Bridgeport), encamping for the night between Warren
tavern and White Horse tavern. Thence, after a con-
siderable skirmish with the enemy, he made further
retreat to Yellow Springs and Warrick furnace, leaving
General Wayne at Paoli, where the latter and his men
met with the fatal surprise of September 20th known as
the " Paoli Massacre.'* From Warrick furnace Washing-
ton recrossed the Schuylkill at Parker's ford, and mov-
ing southward through Trappe came to a stop at the
Perkiomen. Thence, incited by a suspicion that the plan
of the British included a forced march upon Reading,
a depot of Continental supplies, in order to protect the
latter he retraced his steps and hastened up the valley
59
to Pottsgrove (Pottstown), encamping there for several
days. The British, however, extended their march north-
ward only as far as French Creek (Phoenixville), encamp-
ing along the Gulph road all the way from Valley Forge.
At the latter place they committed a number of depreda-
tions, notably the destruction of the old forge and pos-
sibly a building or two farther down the creek. They
then crossed the Schuylkill September 23rd at Fatland
ford and Gordon's ford (Phoenixville), encamped for
the night on Stony creek (Norristown), and thence pro-
ceeded to Germantown. Two days later, September 26th,
Lord Cornwallis took possession of Philadelphia.
In the meantime Washington, learning what had
happened, returned to the Perkiomen, encamped for
a few days to rest his army at Pennypacker's Mills
(Schwenksville), and thence proceeded to Skippack and
Worcester. From the latter point, early on the morn-
ing of October 3rd, the army moved to attack the British
forces at Germantown, the Battle of Germantown
occurring the following day.
This encounter ending in failure Washington re-
treated to the camp on the Perkiomen, but after a few
days' rest was again on the march toward Philadelphia,
halting for a week at a time at convenient places, and
finally November 2nd going into camp at Whitemarsh,
where the army remained for more than a month.
During this respite, December 4th a night attack was
planned on the encampment by Howe, but timely news
of the matter having been given to Washington, he was
on the alert and the attack was successfully resisted,
though the threatening manoeuvres of the enemy were
continued till the morning of the 8th.
60
December 12th the army broke camp at Whitemarsh
and began the march toward Valley Forge, which had
been selected as a suitable site for winter quarters.
The plan was to cross the Schuylkill at Matson's ford
(Conshohocken), but on reaching this, and discovering
a force under Cornwallis in possession of the Gulph
road on the other side, the army moved up to Swedes'
ford (Norristown), crossed there during the night of the
I2th and morning of the 13th, and took up a position at
Gulph Mills. Here they remained for several days, when
the final march of about 6 miles was made to Valley
Forge. During all these movements Washington's men
suffered severely from a lack of blankets and proper cloth-
ing, a thousand or more of them having made the jour-
ney from Whitemarsh in frost and snow with bare feet.
LIFE IN THE ENCAMPMENT
Two days before the arrival of the Army at Valley
Forge, while encamped at Gulph Mills, Washington
addressed a message to the troops in which he thanked
the officers and men for the patience and fortitude they
had shown in the fatigues of the year's campaign, and
urged upon them as they were about to go into their
winter quarters to be no less patient and courageous,
but to meet and surmount the difficulties before them in
a manner becoming the soldier's profession, and worthy
of the sacred cause in which they were engaged. The
conditions in prospect, he added, were not what he could
have wished for his faithful men, but they could be
assured that he himself would share in the hardships
and partake of every inconvenience.
61
The day following, December i8th, had been ap-
pointed by Congress as a day of Public Thanksgiving
and Prayer, and was observed in camp by the holding
of divine services by the Chaplains with their several
corps and brigades.
The 19th of December marked the arrival of the
troops on the site chosen for their winter encampment.
The first important order issued was: that next day the
Major General in command (Lord Stirling), accom-
panied by the engineers, were to view the ground atten-
tively and fix upon the proper spot for hutting, so as to
render the camp as strong and inaccessible as possible.
The engineers then were to mark out the ground indicat-
ing the location for the huts of each Brigade, and after-
wards to direct the Field ofl&cers appointed to superintend
the work of building. The corps of engineers was under
the command of the French officer, Brigadier-General
Louis Lebeque Duportail.
At morning parade the next day the Commander-
in-Chief had a bit of gratifying news to communicate;
it was this: ''The safe arrival at Portsmouth of a French
ship, with 40 brass cannon, 4 pounders, carriage com-
plete, 19 nine-inch mortars, 500 nine-inch bombs, 2000
lbs. of balls, intrenching tools, 4,120 stands of arms, a
quantity of powder, and 61,061 lbs. of sulphur."
The satisfaction with which this bit of news was
communicated by the General, and the enthusiasm with
which it was received by the troops, can readily be
imagined when we remember that the Army for its war
materials was at this time almost wholly dependent
upon purchases made in France, and that getting them
into the country was attended by the extreme risk of
capture in running the British blockade.
62
The arms furnished by the French government to
the United States during the war were principally of the
old model of 1763, commonly known by the name
*'Charleville musket." It was a flint-lock musket,
caliber 72; the barrel was fastened with three iron bands
to stock; mountings of iron.
REVEILLE
The hour appointed for this changed naturally with
the seasons. The following was the general order :
The Reveille to beat at day-break, the Troop at
eight in the morning, the Retreat at sunset, and Tattoo
at nine in the evening.
To render this duty uniform, the drummers call to
beat at the right of the first line and answered through-
out the line, then through the second and corps of artil-
lery beginning at the left. The Reserve shall follow the
second line; immediately upon this three rolls to begin
and run through in like manner as the call. Then all
the drums of the army at the heads of their respective
corps shall go through their regular beats, ceasing upon
the right, which will be a sign for the w^hole to cease.
On December 25th, in order to replenish the Com-
missary cupboard, what might be termed a Christmas
Party was gotten up — a Christmas Foraging Party.
The order convening it provided that it be composed of
"an active careful subaltern and twelve men from each
brigade, who, with an assistant commissary, were to go
to such places as the Commissary-General, or his Assist-
ant in camp, should direct, for the purpose of collecting
flour, grain, cattle or pork for the army." The men
chosen to make up the party were to be "such as were
63
of able body, and knew how to thrash." They were
"to take with them their arms, blankets and neces-
saries and under the command of Major Miller were to
parade in the morning at 9 o'clock at the Black Bull."
Almost concurrent with the laying out of the ground
for "hutting" was the inauguration of plans for the con-
struction of a bridge across the Schuylkill, for the pur-
pose of connecting the camp with the territory on the
east side of the river. The location decided upon was
near Fatland ford, at the lower end of Jenkins' island,
and the work of directing the enterprise was entrusted
to Major-General Sullivan who, "obligingly" accepting
was on this account excused in the meantime from general
field service. It was a log bridge with swing-float section
over the channel, and was probably not completed till
about the first of March. As indicative of this, on the
second of March a guard house was ordered built at its
western end, and General Sullivan's first return to field
duty as officer of the day was on the eighth of that month.
Special care was enjoined upon the guard at the
bridge to see that no suspicious looking persons, or
people without passes, were allowed to cross from either
side. No boats also were allowed to pass without per-
mission from the officer commanding the guard.
The bridge was termed the "New bridge," the
"North bridge," and, finally, "Sullivan's bridge." It
was used by the army on the eventful nineteenth of June
as Washington, hastily breaking up the Valley Forge
encampment, crossed the Schuylkill and proceeded
toward Philadelphia, upon its evacuation by General
Clinton.
From what we are able to gather concerning its later
64
history, it would appear that it did not long survive the
period of the encampment, but v^as soon broken up and
swept away by recurring freshets. A marker on the
south side of the river, indicates the place where it for-
merly stood.
On New Year's day an announcement from Wilming-
ton was made in camp to the effect that a British ship
from New York had been captured in the Delaware, in
which were a number of officers' wives and about 70 or
80 men. A few days later came the statement: "The
Brigg taken from the enemy (and mentioned New Year's
Day) is the greatest prize ever taken from them. There
is Scarlet, Blue and Buff cloth sufficient to clothe all the
officers of the Army; and Hats, Shirts, Stockings, Shoes,
Boots, Spurs, &c., to finish complete suits for all. A
petition is sent to his Excellency that this clothing may
be dealt out to the Regimental officers only— at a moder-
ate price — excluding Commissaries, Bull Drivers, &c.
There are 4 or 5,000 Apelets of gold and silver — many
chests of private officers' Baggage — and General Howe's
Silver Plate — and Kitchen furniture, &c. This cargo
was sent to clothe all the officers of the British army."
THE FORTIFICATIONS
After the work upon the soldiers' huts had become
well advanced, or about the middle of January, atten-
tion was given to the matter of fortification. The works
for the defense of the camp, including the double line
of entrenchments, redoubts, forts, etc., were at this time
marked out by the engineers, and an order from the Com-
mander-in-Chief urged that the work be executed with
all possible dispatch.
65
Generals Greene, Stirling and Lafayette were re-
quested to consult with General Duportail upon the
proper means and number of men necessary for its
execution, and also to appoint competent officers to
superintend it. Numerous orders followed, detailing
officers and men from the various Brigades for the work.
General Patterson consented to superintend the fortifi-
cation of the left wing, and under his direction all the
men and officers not on duty in the respective Brigades
of this wing were to parade every morning at nine o'clock,
to be employed on the work till completed. The work
dragged heavily, and some of it when finished was not
up to standard, as is evidenced by an order issued as
late as April 3rd by the Commander-in-Chief which
reads as follows: "The works of the new line being
very carelessly executed in many parts, and the repre-
sentations of the engineers to the officers commanding
fatigue parties having hitherto been of no avail, the
General calls upon the several Brigadiers to inspect the
part which has been allotted to their Brigade and order
the defects to be remedied, which appears to be princi-
pally owing to the weakness of the stakes, and those of
the exterior face being placed too perpendicularly."
An interesting hint is here given as to the mode of con-
structing the defenses and another in the following
announcement: "As the stumps and brush in front of
the line afford an excellent abatis to the approach of an
enemy, it is expressly forbid that any of it should be
burnt by fatiguing parties, or others, for the distance of
extreme musket range in front of the line, of which all
officers commanding a regiment are to take particular
notice."
66
A CAMP STORE
With the view of providing a channel through w^hich
the country people might obtain sale for their produce,
thus lessening the temptation to smuggle it through the
lines to the enemy in Philadelphia, and at the same time
to provide for the soldiers the opportunity of purchasing
extra articles needed for their comfort, a camp market
was decided upon, to be held six days in the week within
or near the lines. Three different points were selected
for its location, at each of which in rotation it was to be
held, one day at a time — on Monday and Thursday at
the '* Stone Chimney Picket, east side Schuylkill,"
Tuesday and Friday near the North Bridge, and Wednes-
day and Saturday near the Adjutant-General's office.
Handbills containing a list of the wares to be offered for
sale, with prices affixed, were prepared and distributed
both among the soldiers and the market people, the
officers having this work in charge being required first
"to consult with some of the more intelligent country
people."
The first market was held February 9th, at the
"Stone Chimney Picket," the officer in command of the
picket being charged with the duty of seeing that the
posted regulations were carried out. A day or two later,
however, Mr. Joseph Ogden was officially announced
as permanent Clerk of the market.
THE DAILY RATION
The customary daily ration while in camp consisted
of i-J lbs. of flour or bread, i lb. of beef or fish, or | lb.
of pork, and i gill of whiskey or spirits — or, i-J lbs. of
67
flour or bread, J lb. of pork or bacon, | pint peas or beans,
and I gill of whiskey or spirits.
The commissary, however, in issuing rations to the
troops from time to time, was instructed to issue them
agreeable to these estimates according to the state of
stores in camp; and not infrequently, by reason of
depleted stores, he was obliged to take advantage of
this clause, greatly to the discomfort of the soldiers.
The daily gill of whiskey, because of a scarcity of the
article, was often withheld, but without perhaps any
serious effect on the morals of the camp. It was
invariably issued to those assigned to duties requiring
extra physical effort or endurance. On New Year's
Day, presumably as a bit of New Year's cheer, it was
issued to all the soldiers and non-commissioned officers
in camp by special order of the Commander-in-Chief.
THE SUTLERY
During the first month or two of the encampment,
no provision was made for the purchase of liquors in
camp, the officers being obliged to procure their sup-
plies from outside sources. This proving inconvenient,
however, and many of the soldiers showing dissatisfac-
tion over the limiting of their allowance and obtaining
liquor through illicit methods, it was deemed expedient,
at a conference held over the matter by the General
Officers, that a return should be made to the Sutler
system, and this was restored about February ist, after
having been in disuse since November 5th. The rules
at first laid down for its regulation were amended April
i6th, and in the form of a general order were announced
as follows:
68
**The Commander-in-Chief directs that only one
sutler be allowed to each Brigade, who shall have one
sutling booth within the limits of the Brigade, and shall
sell liquors at no other, where he shall sell his liquors at
the following prices to the officers and soldiers of the
Brigade to which he belongs, and on no pretence to any
other under penalty of having his whole stock seized,
and being rendered incapable of ever serving in the army
again: —
Whiskey, peach brandy, apple brandy, cordials of
all kinds, and any other home-made spirits, 15/ pr.
gallon, pr. quart 4/, pr. pint 2/, pr. half pint 1/3.
West India spirits, full proof, pr. quart 15/. Pr.
bowl of toddy, containing half a pint of spirits 7/6.
Cider 1/3 pr. quart, strong beer 2/6 pr. quart, common
beer 1/ pr. quart, vinegar 2/6 pr. quart.
The sutler also is at liberty to sell leaf tobacco at 4/
pr. lb.. Pig-tail at 7/6 pr. lb., and hard soap at 4/ pr. lb.,
but no other articles.
No persons whatsoever, besides such licensed sutlers,
or commissioners sent by particular States, shall sell
liquors of any kind in camp, or within seven miles of
camp, under penalty of having their whole stock seized
without payment for the use of the army; except that
the Quartermaster General is authorized to allow one
or more houses of entertainment to accommodate travel-
lers and strangers who must be necessarily in the vicinity
of the camp, the persons receiving the license for that
purpose giving sufficient security not to vend their liquors
to any person belonging to the army."
69
DINNER AT THE HEADQUARTERS
It was Washington's custom to have the Field
Officers of each day take dinner with him in his private
quarters. If at any time the urgency of their duties
interfered with this arrangement, they were invited to
dine with him the day following.
This gave him the opportunity both of acquainting
himself intimately with the character of his officers, and
of conferring with them upon matters of importance
concerning the army or camp. P. S. Duponceau, w^ho
'was one of the young officers of the army while at Valley
Forge, and aid to General Steuben, referring to this
custom of the Commander-in-Chief, tells us: "The
General, partaking of the hardships of his brave men,
was accustomed to sit down with his invited officers and
others to a scanty piece of meat, with some hard bread
and a few potatoes. At his house they drank the health
and prosperity of the nation in humble toddy, and the
luxurious dessert consisted of a plate of hickory nuts.
There his fortitude and dignity always gave new spirits
to his officers."
Mrs. Martha Washington also, who joined her hus-
band at Valley Forge on February loth, was regularly
present at these gatherings while in camp and presided
at the table. Of her the same officer writes: "Mrs.
Washington possessing always at the head of his
table her mild dignified countenance, grave yet cheer-
ful— her countenance and manner reflected the feelings
of the hero whose name she bore. Her presence
inspired fortitude, and those who came to her with
almost desponding hearts retired full of hope and
confidence."
70
A MEAL IN ONE OF THE HUTS
A gentleman who was an officer in camp gives us
through the pen of another, in Watson's Annals, the
following peep into one of the huts at meal time: "Their
table was loose planks, rough as split from the tree.
One dish of wood or pewter sufficed for a mess (a dozen
men), A horn spoon and tumbler of horn was lent
round. Their knife was carried in the pocket. Fresh
beef they could scarcely get. Of vegetables they had
none, save sometimes some potatoes. Much of their
diet was salted herring, which was often in bad state.
Sugar, coffee, tea, etc., were luxuries not seen. Bread
they were often without. Whiskey the same, though
dow^n as part of the daily ration. Yet, cheerless as was
such a state, sometimes for pleasantry you might see a
squad of men affecting to have received a supply of
whiskey, and passing round the stone jug as if filled, when
lo! the eager expectant found it was only water. The
fun was that the deceived still kept the secret in hopes
to pass it to another and another unwary wight."
As disclosing the uncomplaining spirit of the men,
Duponceau, Aide to Steuben, states that sometimes you
might see soldiers pop their heads out of their huts and
call out in an undertone: "No bread, no soldier," but a
single word from their officer would still their complaint.
To prevent the waste of ammunition and alarming
the camp, all firing of guns by the soldiers was absolutely
forbidden unless by license first obtained from the Major-
General of the day; and the order added: "The instant
a gun is fired a sergeant and file of men shall be sent to
catch the villain who is thus wasting ammunition and
alarming the camp."
71
SPARKS FROM THE CAMP FIRES
Grand parade at 9 o'clock every morning.
Axes and timber for the axing — huts thrown in.
New Year's Cheer! A gill apiece all round.
No gambling in camp, and no swearing allowed
except "By George."
A flag to Philadelphia at 9 to-morrow — Get in your
love letters.
Save your dirty tallow and make soft soap.
Divine services every Sunday at 11 o'clock.
Tailors freed from other duty — wish I were a tailor!
Poultice for hardship — an extra month's pay — Cheers
for Congress!
If you haven't had the small-pox, call on Dr. Cochran.
Bring in a deserter and get ten dollars' reward.
Low beats the drum — another comrade mustered out.
Keep at the cartridge-making— Put in the buckshot.
Shift ye winds ! Some fellows are boiling soap grease.
Welcome to Mrs. Washington — Caps off to the Chief-
Look decent on parade, boys — Shave, and comb your
hair.
Guns and ammunition to the front — Alarm on the
south.
Meet me at the guard house, Johnny — room for two.
Spring flowers, spring showers — Bring out your
buckets.
Forty rounds, a gill of rum and a blanket — Forward,
March!
HOSPITAL AND OTHER HUTS
As fast as the huts for the men were completed, the
tents which had been in use were ordered to be delivered
72
into the hands of the Quartermaster General, to be prop-
erly washed, repaired, stored, and held in readiness for
the next campaign.
The hospital huts were not commenced till late in
January. They were to measure 15 x 25 feet in the clear,
be of one story, not less than 9 feet in height — to be
covered with shingles only, without dirt — have windows
on each side, and a chimney at one end. Two of these
were to be provided for each Brigade, located as near
the center of its camp as the ground would permit.
The Provost Guard huts were erected about the same
time, the Quartermaster General being instructed Jan-
uary 15th to fix upon a suitable site between or near the
lines where huts may be erected for persons under the
Provost Guard. Subsequently two men with axes from
each Brigade were detailed to construct the huts, and a
skilled carpenter was sent to assist and direct them till
the work was finished.
Captain Shagg was the Provost Marshal until Jan-
uary 23rd, and was succeeded in the office by Sergeant
Howe.
The Provost Guard huts were usually well filled with
prisoners, including soldiers and citizens, who had been
arrested on the charge of some crime, or misdemeanor.
Here they were detained till they could be tried by a
Court Martial, and following the trial, if found guilty,
till sentence, which in every case must be approved by
the Commander-in-Chief, was executed. Recorded
against the prisoners such charges might prevail as:
refusing to obey orders, drunkenness, theft, gaming,
inciting to riot or mutiny, desertion or attempted deser-
tion, insulting or assaulting an officer or citizen, behavior
73
unbecoming an officer, cowardice, challenging, absence
from camp without permission, taking cattle or provis-
ions to Philadelphia, giving aid or information to the
enemy, acting as guide or spy to the latter, and many
other offenses that might be named.
If upon trial the charge against the prisoner was
sustained, the penalty imposed, if upon a citizen or com-
mon soldier, was, for ordinary offenses, from 39 to 150
lashes on the bare back, "well laid on"; if upon a com-
missioned officer, public reprimand, dismissal, or dis-
missal with infamy, from the service; and for desertion
or acting as guide or spy for the enemy, the penalty of
death. The sentence was usually executed in the pres-
ence of a part or the whole of the army, at the daily pa-
rade. One or two recorded examples, illustrative of the
manner and severity with which penalties were inflicted
(though extreme cases), will form interesting reading.
"Head Quarters V. F., January 5th, 1778. A Gen.
Court Martial held the ist Instant, whereof Colo. Sambre
was presidt. Appeared Dunham Ford, Commissary in
Genl. Green's division, charged with Theft. The Court
having consider'd the Charge and Evidence are of
opinion that Dunham Ford is guilty of the Charge
exhibited against him and do sentence him to pay Mr.
Spencer & Mr. Hotawell 200 dollars and that after he
shall procure a Certificate from the aforesaid Genl. of
the payment of the above sum, he be brought from the
Provost Guard mounted on a horse back foremost with-
out a Saddle, his Coat turn'd wrong side out, his hands
tied behind him & be drum'd out of the Army (never
more to return) by all the Drums in the Division to which
he belongs, and that the above sentence be published in
74
the Newspapers. The Commander-in-Chief approves
the Sentence and orders it put in Execution."
"A Division Court Martial held the 15th instant
(January), v^hereof Lt. Colo. Ballard was President.
Capt. Lambert of the 14th Virga. Regt. tried for stealing
a Hatt from Captn. Allis, found guilty and unanimously
sentenced to be Cashiered, and that it be deemed scan-
dalous for an ojfficer to Associate with him in future and
that his Crime, Name and place of Abode and punish-
ment be published in and about Camp and in the news-
papers of every State, particularly the State he belongs
to, and that he pay Captn. AUis 30 dollars for the hat he
stole from him, also the expences of the Witnesses against
him and the expences of an express sent for them — Which
shall be paid before he is released from his confinement —
The Commander-in-Chief approves the Sentence and
orders it to take place immediately."
Mary Johnson, found guilty January 29th of laying
a plot to desert to the enemy, was "sentenced to receive
100 lashes and to be drummed out of Camp by all the
drums and fifes in the Division."
Flogging, or whipping, as a penalty for breach of
Martial law, was adopted in the American Army from
the military code of the British, with whom, as here, it
was often inflicted with seemingly barbarous severity.
The practice was long ago discontinued by the United
States Government. It may be noted, however, that
under the civil statutes of one State (Delaware) it still
exists, and is occasionally used as a punishment for
petty crimes.
75
GENERALS AT VALLEY FORGE UNDER
WASHINGTON
MAJOR GENERALS
( Commanding Di'visions or Special Corps )
Nathaniel Greene Lord Stirling
Alexander McDougall (William Alexander)
Baron De Kalb Charles Lee
Marquis de Lafayette Baron von Steuben ^
Thomas Mifflin John SuUivan
BRIGADIER GENERALS
Thomas Conway ^ (Penna. Troops)
John Glover (Mass. Troops)
Jedediah Huntington (Conn. Troops)
Henry Knox (Corps of Artillery)
Ebenezer Learned (N. H. Troops)
William Maxwell (N. J. Troops)
Lachlan Mcintosh (Ga. & N. C. Troops)
John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg (Penna. Troops).
John Patterson (Conn. & Mass. Troops).
Enoch Poor (N. Y. Troops).
Charles Scott (Va. Troops).
Anthony Wayne (Penna. Troops).
George Weeden (Va. Troops).
WiUiam Woodford (ist Va. Brigade).
James M. Varnum (R. I. Troops).
Count Pulaski (Light Dragoons).
Louis Lebeque Duportail (Corps of Engineers).
Some of these were in camp but a short time, and
others intermittently. Lee was for months a captive in
^Page 76. ^Page 80.
76
Philadelphia. Lafayette came late, being detained at
Bethlehem by the wound he received at Brandywine,
and afterwards saw Httle of the camp. He, McDougall,
and Sullivan were detached to do service much of the
time on important posts in proximity to the enemy.
Besides these, several of the Brigadiers were assigned to
distant posts of duty.
Washington's Life Guard consisted originally of one
hundred picked men of the Virginia line, but after the
arrival of General Steuben it was increased by the addi-
tion of another hundred selected from the other states.
It was thus enlarged for the purpose of forming a corps
to be instructed in the manoeuvres about to be introduced
into the army and to serve as a model for their execution.
General Conway late in December was by Congress
appointed inspector-general to the army, and promoted
to the rank of Major-General, but did not afterwards
remain long in the service, his resignation resulting from
the exposure of his prominent connection with a con-
spiracy to oust Washington from the chief command.
This is known as the Conway Cabal. The plan was to
put Gates or Lee in the General's place. Both of these
men coveted the position and had some secret following
in Congress. Conway was_a^nere_tool. An attempt
was made to draw Lafayette into the plot but failed.
Washington learned of the matter but waited quietly,
till the plot was ripe, then crushed it by exposure before
Congress, greatly to the chagrin and humiliation of the
participants.
In the army at Valley Forge at the time of the encamp-
ment were a number of men beneath the rank of general
77
who afterwards acquired national distinction. Among
these were Alexander Hamilton and Colonel Trumbul
aids to Washington; Timothy Pickering who became
a cabinet officer; George Clinton, Vice President;
Henry Dearborn, Secretary of War; Thomas Hiester,
Governor of Pennsylvania; Richard Peters, Judge of
U. S. Court; John Marshall (then a private in the ranks),
Chief Justice U. S.; James Monroe, President United
States; and others.
CAMP DRUDGERY
In the routine of the camp, outside of picket and
other forms of military duty, wood had to be cut and
lugged for the fires, water carried from remote springs,
food cooked and vessels cleansed, clothes washed and
holes patched, or tied with a string, huts kept clean,
filth and garbage removed from the camp streets, cattle
slaughtered, their horns and hoofs boiled for the oil,
soft-soap made, the horses and other animals cared for,
etc., not to mention the many unwelcome duties con-
nected with the care of the sick and the burial of the dead.
Poor clothes and shabby surroundings lead as a rule
to the extinction of self-respect. The average soldier at
Valley Forge was no exception under the rule. In con-
sequence April 8th the Commander-in-Chief was obliged
to order "the adjutants to see that the troops came on
guard parade looking as neat and respectable as possible."
"Despite," he said, "of the indiff^erent quality and want
of uniformity in clothing, the soldier may always shave
his beard, appear with clean hands and face, and in
general have an air of neatness." "Clean camp, clean
clothes," he added, "and vituals well-dressed contribute
above everything else to the health of the soldier, and
78
would go far to prevent such number of deaths as have
unfortunately taken place since w^e came to this ground."
RELIGIOUS SERVICES
Divine services v^ere held in camp every Sunday,
at v^hich sermons were preached by the Chaplains to
their respective brigades. If the circumstances of the
army on a Sunday were such as to render this imprac-
ticable, provision was made for holding the service at
another time in the week.
THE ARTIFICERS
The term "Artificers" is a general term, and was used
to include tradesmen, or skilled workmen, of every craft
whose services could be used to advantage in field or
camp. It embraced carpenters, wagon makers, black-
smiths, gunsmiths, saddlers, masons, and followers of
allied trades. .
The artificers constituted the mechanical, or prac- (
tical, arm of the Engineering Corps, which embraced
on the other hand the sappers and miners, surveyors
and draftsmen. This corps was under the command
of Brigadier-General Duportail. Early in February
there was a reorganization of the corps, and several new
companies were added. Three captains, and an equal
number of First and Second Lieutenants, were needed
to officer these, and notice was given (February 8th)
that those desirous of taking commissions in the com-
panies to be formed, for which a knowledge of practical
geometry and drawing was a necessary qualification,
should hand in their names to the Adjutant-General's
office.
79
In order, also, that men might be gathered out of
the regiments to swell the ranks of the Artificers, com-
manding officers were required to make a return of
the names of all suitable persons under their respective
commands, so that they might be properly assigned
and their services utilized.
When the force had been well organized a Mr. Davis
Bevan was appointed to superintend the workmen and
deal out materials. "In the future," it was ordered
(May 5th), after mentioning Mr. Bevan's appointment,
"when boards or planks are wanting, or artificers are
necessary to do any jobs in the army, an order signed by
a general officer, officers commanding Brigades, or
Brigade Quartermasters, and directed to Mr. Bevan at
Sullivan's Bridge, will be duly attended to." Everything
in or about camp, or while the army was upon the march,
requiring skilled labor to construct or repair, was per-
formed by these workmen. Sometimes when a Brigade
or Regiment had its own tools and facilities for the per-
formance of certain kinds of work, particularly tailor-
ing, shoemaking, or even gun repairing, it was allowed,
under certain conditions, to do it in its own camp, but
the bulk of all sorts of mechanical work was performed
in the workshops which stood near the present Old
Forge.
The Pioneers were men who moved in front of the
army while on the march to prepare the way for rapid
advance. For this work 150 men were usually chosen
from each brigade. Each man carried an axe for the
hewing of timber and preparing of roads, and when
arrived at a new camping place their duty was to cut
wood for their respective brigades. The men were
accompanied by their brigade quartermasters, who
directed them in their work. On account of the class of
service rendered they were excused from all guard and
other ordinary duty, though they were required at all
times to carry their guns with them, and if an action was
expected they must deliver up their axes to the quarter-
masters and join their respective corps.
Too much emphasis cannot be placed upon the im-
portance of Steuben's work at Valley Forge as contribut-
ing to the army's success in the campaign that followed.
No man ever attempted such a task, as he assumed,
under less favorable conditions— a third or more of the
troops on the sick list with daily ravages being made
in the ranks by the enemy death, and another third
largely in rags and without suitable arms — yet no man
ever accomplished more in so short a time. Inside of
one month from the time he was appointed Inspector-
General, March i8th, the troops had taken on a more
soldierly appearance, and by the 19th of June they had
been so trained in a system of useful manoeuvres and
regularity of discipline as to be able to cope successfully
with the trained troops of the British army.
WASHINGTON'S WAR HORSES
What is more fitting than that mention should be
here made of the two war horses. Nelson and Blueskin,
that served the Commander-in-Chief while at Valley
Forge, and throughout the war. They were familiar
figures in the camp's life, and in no small degree shared
the respect and affection which were entertained by the
soldiers towards their great Chief. Mr. John Hunter,
an English visitor at Mt. Vernon in 1785, in a letter to
a friend, makes the following reference to these worthy
steeds:
"When dinner was over we visited the General's
stables, and saw his magnificent horses, among them
Old Nelson, now 22 years of age, that carried the General
almost always during the war. Blueskin, another fine
old horse, next to him had that honor. They have heard
the roaring of many a cannon in their time. Blueskin
was not the favorite on account of his not standing fire
so well as venerable Old Nelson. The General makes
no manner of use of them now. He keeps them in a nice
stable, where they feed away at their ease for their past
services."
WATCHING THE ENEMY
That Washington for a month or more had been
keeping close watch of the enemy's movements in Phila-
delphia, and was holding himself in readiness at an hour's
notice to take advantage of any change in the situation,
is shown from the following extracts from his letters to
the President of Congress.
May 1 8th he wrote: "From a variety of concurring
circumstances, and the uniform report of persons who
have left Philadelphia within four days, it would appear
that the enemy mean to evacuate the city."
May 25th. "The enemy are making every prepara-
tion and seem to be upon the point of leaving Phila-
delphia."
May 29th. "That the enemy mean to evacuate
Philadelphia is almost reduced to a certainty."
June loth. "We have been kept in anxious expecta-
tion of the enemy evacuating Philadelphia for upwards
of fourteen days."
82
Finally June i8th, at ii A.M., he wrote: "I have
the pleasure to inform Congress that I was this minute
advised by Mr. Roberts that the enemy evacuated the
city this morning. I have put six brigades in motion;
and the rest of the army are preparing to follow with all
possible dispatch." Seven hours later, (6 P. m.) he
added: "I have appointed General Arnold to command
in Philadelphia, as the state of his wound will not permit
his services in a more active line. Colonel Jackson, with
a detachment of troops, is to attend him. The General
set out this evening, and I shall move with the main body
of the army at five in the morning to-morrow."
This was probably the last communication penned
by the Commander-in-Chief from the Valley Forge Head-
quarters. The spare moments left to him before five in
the morning were occupied in issuing instructions to the
various commanding officers.
83
DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS
NOTHING is calculated to give a truer insight
into the deplorable condition of things in
camp than some of the letters written on the
subject at the time by Washington and others, extracts
from which are here given. (See Sparks' Life of
Washington Vol. V.)
On the 22nd of December, 1777, Washington wrote
from Valley Forge to Congress as follows:
"It is with infinite pain and concern that I transmit
to Congress the enclosed copies of sundry letters respect-
ing the state of the Commissary's department. In these,
matters are not exaggerated. I do not know from what
cause this alarming deficiency, or rather total failure of
supplies, arises; but unless more vigorous and better
regulations take place in that line immediately this
army must dissolve. I have done all in my power, by
remonstrating, by writing, by ordering the commis-
saries on this head, from time to time; but without any
good effect, or obtaining more than a present scanty
relief. Owing to this, the march of the army has been
delayed, upon more than one interesting occasion, in
the course of the present campaign; and had a body of
the enemy crossed the Schuylkill this morning, as I had
reason to expect from the intelligence I received at four
o'clock last night, the divisions which I ordered to be
in readiness to march and meet them could not have
moved. It is unnecessary for me to add more upon the
subject. I refer Congress to the copies."
84
Huntington to Washington, Dec. 22nd:
"I received an order to hold my brigade in readiness
to march. Fighting will be by far preferable to starving.
My brigade are out of provisions, nor can the commis-
sary obtain any meat. I am exceedingly unhappy in
being the bearer of complaints to Headquarters. I have
used every argument my imagination can invent to make
the soldiers easy, but I despair of being able to do it
much longer."
Varnum to Washington, same date:
"According to the saying of Solomon, 'hunger will
break through a stone wall'. It is therefore a very
pleasing circumstance to the division under my com-
mand that there is a probability of their marching.
Three days successively we have been destitute of bread.
Two days we have been entirely without meat. The
men must be supplied or they cannot be commanded.
The complaints are too urgent to pass unnoticed. It is
with pain that I mention this distress. I know it will
make your Excellency unhappy, but if you expect the
exertion of virtuous principles while your troops are
deprived of the necessaries of life, your final disappoint-
ment will be great in proportion to the patience, which
now astonishes every man of human feeling."
Washington to Governor Livingston Dec. 31st:
"I sincerely feel for the unhappy condition of our
poor fellows in the hospitals, and wish my powers to
relieve them were equal to my inclination. It is but too
melancholy a truth, that our hospital stores are exceed-
ingly scanty and deficient in every instance, and I fear
85
there is no prospect of their shortly being better. Our
difficulties and distresses are certainly great, and such
as wound the feelings of humanity. Our sick naked,
and well naked, our unfortunate men in captivity naked!
You were certainly right in representing the state of the
sick, that they may be made more happy if possible."
Washington to Governor Clinton Feb. i6, 1778:
"To form a just idea of the present dreadful situa-
tion of the army for want of provisions, it were neces-
sary to be on the spot. For some days past there has been
little less than a famine in camp. A part of the army has
been a week without any kind of flesh, and the rest three
or four days. Naked and starving as they are, we cannot
enough admire the incomparable patience and fidelity of
the soldiery, that they have not been ere this encited by
their suffering to a general mutiny and dispersion."
Wayne to the Secretary of War:
"I am not fond of danger, but I would most cheer-
fully agree to enter into action, once every week, in place
of visiting each hut of my encampment (which is my
constant practice), and where objects strike my eye
whose wretched condition beggars all description. For
God's sake give us, if you can't give us anything else,
give us linen that we may be enabled to preserve the poor
worthy fellows from the vermin that are now devouring
them. Some hundreds we have buried who have died
of a disorder produced by a want of clothing."
Poor to the Governor of New York:
"I have upwards of seventy men unfit for duty, only
for want of the articles of clothing; twenty of which
86
have no breeches at all, so that they are obliged to take
their blankets to cover their nakedness, and as many
without a single shirt, stocking or shoe; about thirty
fit for duty; the rest sick or lame, and God knows it
won't be long before they will be all laid up, as the poor
fellows are obliged to fetch wood and water on their
backs, half a mile with bare legs in snow or mud."
PLAIN TALK TO CONGRESS
Washington to President of Congress Dec. 23, 1777:
"Sir: Full as I was in my representation of the
matters in the commissary's department yesterday, fresh
and more powerful reasons oblige me to add, that I am
now convinced without a doubt, that, unless some great
and capital change suddenly takes place in that line,
this army must inevitably be reduced to one or other of
these three things; starve, dissolve, or disperse in order
to obtain subsistence in the best manner they can.
Rest assured. Sir, this is not an exaggerated picture,
and that I have abundant reason to suppose what I say.
Yesterday afternoon, receiving information that the
enemy in force had left the city, and were advancing
towards Derbey with the apparent design to forage, and
draw subsistence from that part of the country, I ordered
the troops to be in readiness, that I might give every
opposition in my power; when behold, to my great morti-
fication, I was not only informed, but convinced, that
the men were unable to stir on account of provision, and
that a dangerous mutiny, begun the night before, and
which with difficulty was suppressed by the spirited
exertions of some officers, was still much to be appre-
hended, for want of this article. This brought forth the
87
only commissary in the purchasing Hne in this camp;
and, with him, this melancholy and alarming truth, that
he had not a single hoof of any kind to slaughter, and not
more than twenty-five barrels of flour. From hence
form an opinion of our situation when I add, that he
could not tell when to expect any. * * *
Though I have been tender heretofore of giving any
opinion, or lodging complaints, as the change in that
department (commissary) took place contrary to my
judgment, and the consequences thereof were pre-
dicted; yet, finding that the inactivity of the army,
whether for want of provisions, clothes, or other essen-
tials, is charged to my account, not only by the common
vulgar but by those in power, it is time to speak plain
in exculpation of myself. With truth, then, I can de-
clare, that no man in my opinion ever had his measures
more impeded than I have, by every department of the
army.
Since the month of July we have had no assistance
from the quartermaster-general.* * * And this, the
great and crying evil, is not all. The soap, vinegar, and
other articles allowed by Congress, we see none of, nor
have we see them, I believe, since the battle of Brandy-
wine. The first, indeed, we have now little occasion
for; few men having more than one shirt, many only
the moiety of one, and some none at all. In addition to
which, as a proof of the little benefit received from a
clothier-general, and as a further proof of the inability
of an army, under the circumstances of this, to perform
the common duties of soldiers (besides a number of men
confined to hospitals for want of shoes, and others in
farmers' houses on the same account), we have, by a
88
field return this day made, no less than two thousand,
eight hundred and ninety-eight men now in camp unfit
for duty, because they are barefoot and otherwise naked.
* * * Since the 4th instant our numbers fit for duty,
from the hardships and exposures they have undergone,
particularly on account of blankets (numbers having
been obliged, and still are, to sit up all night by fires,
instead of taking comfortable rest in a natural and com-
mon way), have decreased near two thousand men.
We find gentlemen, without knowing whether the army
was really going into winter quarters or not, reprobating
the measure as much as if they thought the soldiers
were made of stocks or stones, and equally insensible of
frost and snow. * * *
But what makes this matter still more extraordinary
in my eye is, that these very gentlemen — who were well
apprized of the nakedness of the troops from ocular
demonstration — should think a winter's campaign, and
the covering of these States from the invasion of an
enemy, so easy and practicable a business. I can assure
those gentlemen, that it is a much easier and less dis-
tressing thing to draw remonstrances in a comfortable
room by a good fireside, than to occupy a cold, bleak
hill, and sleep under frost and snow, without clothes
and blankets. However, although they seem to have
little feeling for the naked and distressed soldiers, I feel
superabundantly for them, and, from my soul, pity those
miseries, which it is neither in my power to relieve or
prevent. It is for these reasons, therefore, I have dwelt
upon the subject; and it adds not a little to my other
difficulties and distress to find that much more is expected
of me than is possible to be performed, and that upon the
ground of safety and policy 1 am obliged to conceal the
true state of the army from public view, and thereby
expose myself to detraction and calumny.
The honorable committee of Congress went from
camp fully possessed of my sentiments respecting the
establishment of this army. * * * I would earnestly
advise that the commissary-general of purchases, whom
I rarely see, may be directed to form magazines without
a moment's delay, in the neighborhood of this camp, in
order to procure provisions for us in case of bad weather
(and the coming campaign). The quartermaster-general
ought also to be busy in his department. In short, there
is as much to be done in preparing for a campaign, as
in the active part of it. Everything depends upon the
preparation that is made in the several departments,
and the success or misfortunes of the next campaign
will more than probably originate with our activity or
supineness during this winter.
I have the honor to be, &c."
May 29th Washington wrote in a letter to General
Gates: "We have near,, four thousand men sick of the
small-pox and other disorders." This was twenty-one
days before the evacuation of the cantonment.
General hospitals were maintained at Reading,
Bethlehem, Quaker Meeting House, Buckingham Meet-
ing House, and other points, to which the sick and
wounded were transferred from the camp hospitals as
these became filled. In the work of transfer "Flying
Hospitals," so called, or ambulances, were used. Doctor
Garick was director of the hospital at Reading.
90
VILLAGE LANDMARKS NOW
OBLITERATED
THE OLD FORGE
A S stated elsewhere, the forge which gave name
/ % to the place was situated on the western, or
Jl. _m^ Chester Co., side of Valley creek, about five-
eighths of a mile from its mouth.
This fact of late has been questioned. Some writers
have placed it on the opposite, or Montgomery Co., side
of the creek. An inference hastily drawn from its
early name, and its having belonged to the Mt. Joy
Manor, may have led to this error. The Manor of Mt.
Joy however was a tract of land granted October 24th,
1 701, by William Penn to his daughter Letitia, which
originally contained 7,800 acres. But more likely, the
error has arisen from confounding this forge with one
which immediately succeeded it, built on the other side
farther down the stream.
The original forge, built before 1751, was burnt by
British soldiers about September 23rd, 1777, as part of
Howe's army passed through the place and crossed the
Schuylkill at Fatland ford, on their way to the occupa-
tion of Philadelphia.^
The reason for their burning the forge was that its
owners, Mr. David Potts and Col. Dewees, were strong
patriots, and had caused, or allowed, to be stored there,
^ Page 103.
91
and in one or two other buildings, a considerable quan-
tity of military supplies. Of this the British received
information, but, as it would appear, upon the arrival
of a squad of men to capture the stores the latter had been
successfully removed, so in their disappointment they
put the torch to the innocent workshop.
This event occurred nearly three months before the
arrival of Washington's army for the winter encamp-
ment. Upon the arrival of the troops, and their curious
inspection of the surrounding territory which would
naturally follow, to many of them, on the alert for any
sort of material suitable for use in camp construction,
the charred walls and iron scrap of the ruined forge, in
its wooded seclusion, presented an irresistible tempta-
tion for pillage, and in a short time they had made
serious depredations upon the property. Stones were
removed from its walls, and iron plates from the debris
within, making it necessary for the owners, within two
weeks from the coming of the troops, to appeal to
the Commander-in-Chief to have the depredations
stopped.
In consequence of this appeal Washington, on the
6th of January, issued in camp the following order:
"Col. Dewees, who is nearly ruined by the enemy,
complains that the ruins of his buildings are likely to be
destroyed by this army. The Commander-in-Chief
positively forbids the least injury to be done to the walls
and chimneys of Col. Dewees' buildings, and as divers
iron plates have been taken from them, the commanding
officers of corps are immediately to inspect all the huts
of their regiments and make returns to the Quarter-
master General of all they can find, and the names of
. 92
the persons in whose possession they are found, that they
may be restored when demanded." — Weedens Orderly.
The reference in this document is without question
to the ruined forge, the roar and clatter of whose fire
and tilt-hammer had now been silent for more than three
months.
The proprietors, during this time however were not
idle nor without plan or purpose for the reestablishment
of their ruined business. On the contrary, there is reason
to believe that soon after the burning of the forge they
reached a decision not to rebuild the old work-shop, but
to erect another in a more accessible location. The site
selected for this was half a mile farther down the creek,
on the Montgomery Co. side, near the Gulph road,
probably not far above the site of the present yarn mill,
and work upon the enterprise was immediately begun.
In determining this the wanton conduct again of some
of the soldiers comes to our aid. Evidently the Com-
mander-in-Chief's order of January 6th had not made a
very lasting impression upon their minds. Perhaps the
mischief perpetrated at this time was by persons who for
some reason had not heard the order. Be this as it may,
in consequence of further complaints from Col. Dewees,
Washington was obliged to issue a second mandate.
The date of this was April 29th, nearly four months
subsequent to the first. It reads as follows: —
''Complaint having been made by Mr. Dewees,
proprietor of the Valley Forge, that the soldiers pull
down the houses and break up the forebays at what is
called the New Forge upon Valley Creek, the Command-
er-in-Chief strictly forbids all persons from further
93
damaging the said buildings and works, which he hopes
will be particularly attended to — especially when they
consider the great loss which Mr. Dewees has already
suffered by the enemy, and by the great waste our army
has been under the necessity of committing upon his
wood and other improvements." — fFeeden's Orderly.
The language here used, particularly the clause —
'* at what is called the New Forge on Valley Creek^
speaks for itself, and clearly indicates that the successor
to the forge burnt by the British some seven months
before was now well advanced in construction — perhaps
nearly completed. Here in this New Forge, more con-
veniently located, being nearer the lines of travel, its
proprietors resumed their interrupted industry of manu-
facturing wrought iron from the pig bars by the old-
time refining process, where it was successfully continued
during a number of years. This building, however, we
are told, also was in ruins as early as 1816.
In an article on the Forge by Howard M. Jenkins
in the Pennsylvania Magazine, Vol. XVII, page 430, the
position is taken that its location was on the Montgomery
county side. His argument seems a plausible one; but
in the face of existing evidence in support of the Chester
county site, it is far from decisive. Granting, what is
not made altogether clear, that the 175 acres of land
with which the forge was offered for sale in 1 75 1 was
bounded on its western side by the various courses of
Valley Creek — the county line — we must not lose sight
of the fact that in those days, in contrast with these,
land was not so valuable, nor were property lines so
closely drawn or insisted upon as to preclude the erec-
tion of a building a few feet — in this case forty or fifty
94
at most — beyond the owner's line, particularly in such
a situation. A two minutes' glance at the spot will
wonderfully aid our conceptions.
On the Montgomery county side the low ground
between the creek and the hill at this point is too narrow
to admit of a building of the most meager proportions,
while the ground on the other side, more ample, is yet
of such a character, situated at the base of a rugged,
rocky, wood-covered mountain, and now partly covered
by water, as to be of absolutely no intrinsic worth. In
all the years that have intervened it has been put to no
practical use; and to-day, were it not for its historic
interest, as the supposed location of the forge, the entire
site, without question, could be acquired for a song.
In support of the Chester county location tradition
is almost unanimous. Added to this is the testimony of
one or two contemporary maps. The map prepared
during the encampment by Colonel Dubuysson, for the
use of General Lafayette, places it on the west side of
Valley Creek.
The same is true of the map given by Sparks in his
mammoth Biography of Washington. It may also be
added that in the finding of slag on the premises by
residents of the village, and others, a common occur-
rence for years and as late as 1897, none of it has been
reported found on the Montgomery side.
THE GUN FACTORY
The statement is made in a local historical work,
pubHshed in 1872,^ that about the time of the Revolu-
tionary war the United States Government built at Valley
^ "Annals of Phoenixville and Vicinity" by S. W. Pennypacker.
95
Forge an establishment for the manufacture of muskets,
concurrent with the building of similar establishments
at Harper's Ferry, Va. and Springfield, Mass. The
building, it is added, was a three-story structure, about
100 ft. long by 30 ft. in depth.
Of the correctness of such a statement I am unable
to find any proof, and must regard it as purely an error.
In the first place, no muskets are known to have
been manufactured in this country by any Government
institution prior to the year 1795. The first were manu-
factured during that year at the National armory at
Springfield, Mass., the year after its establishment by
act of Congress approved April 2nd, 1794.
During the Revolutionary War, in 1776, General
Washington ordered Col. David Mason, of Boston, to
establish a laboratory in New England for the prepara-
tion of all kinds of ammunition. The location chosen
for this was Springfield, and the laboratory ultimately
developed into the Springfield Armory.
Some muskets were repaired at this establishment
during the Revolutionary War, but none were manu-
factured previous to 1795. The Arsenal at Harper's
Ferry was established in 1796, under the act previously
mentioned.
In addition to the facts just stated, it may be remarked
that nowhere in any authoritative list of Government
Arsenals, laboratories, forts, etc., does the name of
Valley Forge appear; and in the War Department at
Washington the Chief of Ordnance affirms that at his
office nothing is known of any Government establish-
ment being built at Valley Forge for the manufacture
of muskets.
96
A gun factory, however, was established here in 1821,
nearly 40 years after the war, not a Government estab-
lishment, but a private enterprise under the manage-
ment of Brooke Evans, an English operator; and we
can readily perceive how reports concerning this might
give rise to the story contained in the former statement.
What is said to be part of the ruins of this old land-
mark may still be seen in the yard back of the present old
forge. For a long time it was used as a stable, but
fifteen or more years ago it was burned down. On the
same site previously there was a forge and slitting mill,
built by David Potts and Joshua Malin, about 1 8 14.
The latter also had a small shop, operated in connection
with the other works, occupying exactly the site of the
present forge building, in which he carried on the manu-
facture of nails by the tedious hand process.
In 1821 the two first-named shops were changed
and enlarged, and formed the basis of the gun factory.
The works also included a building, now extinct, on the
opposite side of the creek.
In regard to the success of the enterprise, or the
details of its operation, but little accurate information
seems to have been preserved, beyond the fact that by
it during the period of its existence 20,000 muskets were
manufactured. Whether these were sold to the United
States Government, or shipped to a foreign market, is
not definitely known. Neither can it be stated with
accuracy just what type of musket the Evans factory
produced. The fact that Mr. Evans was an EngHsh-
man, and that he came directly from England to engage
in the work of gun-making at Valley Forge, might war-
rant the inference or assumption that in embarking in the
97
enterprise it was with the fixed intention of making Great
Britain his prospective market; and if this were the case,
he naturally would select as a model for manufacture
that type of musket which he knew to be popular with
British military authorities.
MUSKETRY THEN AND NOW
Whether intended for the American or the British
market it was without question a flint-lock musket that
Evans manufactured. The percussion-cap gun invented
by a Scotch clergyman by the name of Forsythe, in 1807,
had by this time (1821) come to be much talked of, both
in military and sporting circles, but it was many years
later before the system had become sufficiently developed
and improved to secure for it moderate favor or general
use. The needle gun invented by the German, Nicholas
Dreyse, did not appear till 1827.
The flint-lock system, dating back to about 1630, of
Spanish origin, was introduced into England in the
reign of William the Third, and from that time flint-
lock guns gradually increased in favor until they became
the general weapons of the country, being retained in
use in the British army until after 1840. Indeed, flint-
lock guns were manufactured in Birmingham for the
British army as late as 1842.
In the American Revolution a breech-loading carbine
of the flint-lock type, known as the "Ferguson" rifle,
invented some time previous to 1776, was used to some
extent by the British army. It was the first time it
had been used by a regularly organized British corps.
In this country the flint-lock gun held sway quite
as late as with the British, until it was finally super-
seded by muskets of the percussion type of American
manufacture.
At the commencement of the Revolutionary war the
colonists had but few arms. The first supply had there-
fore to be collected in great part from individuals, and
included a great variety of styles and bore, or caliber.
In course of time a considerable supply was procured
from France, these principally being of the old model of
1763, commonly known as the "Charleville Musket."
This gun, with some slight changes, served as a pattern
for the flint-lock arms manufactured by the United States
when manufacturing operations begun. The first per-
cussion-cap musket produced in this countrv was that
manufactured at the National Armory at Springfield,
Mass., in 1844 known as the model 1842, because
adopted by the army in that year. The flint-lock musket
was set aside as soon as a suflScient number of percus-
sion-lock muskets had been manufactured and issued.
The first issue of the latter was made to Co." A" ist U. S.
Artillery then stationed at Fort Preble, Maine, in Decem-
ber, 1844. The type of small arm now in use in the
army is called "U. S. Rifle, Model of 1903."
THE OLD GRIST MILL
This stood opposite the Washington Headquarters,
on the same side of the creek, close to the present rail-
road embankment. It was built by Isaac Potts not later
than 1760, and was in successful operation up to Sep-
tember, 1777, when as some say it shared the fate of the
old Forge at the hands of the British. If burnt at
that time, which is doubtful, it was afterwards rebuilt,
for during many subsequent years it served the farming
; , , 99
community in the grinding of their grists, till it was
destroyed by fire in 1843, having taken fire, as was sup-
posed, from the spark of a locomotive. A piece of the
old water-wheel is preserved in the Headquarters as an
interesting relic.
A NEW GRIST MILL
To take the place of the old was erected the year
following (1844), a hundred yards or more farther up
the creek, by Mr. Ogden, who then owned the property.
After being used for a quarter of a century as a grist
mill, April 4th, 1870, it was bought, greatly added to,
and converted by the purchaser into what was known as:
KNAUER'S PAPER MILL
Where for a number of years the proprietor, Mr.
Isaiah Knauer, carried on a successful business, manu-
facturing a fine quality of stationery and other kinds of
paper for the Philadelphia market. His place of resi-
dence during the time was the house now known as the
Washington Inn. In a building adjoining the paper-
mill the manufacture of chairs and bent timber was
carried on for several years by Mr. L. Grover, a son-in-
law of Mr. Knauer. Later the property changed hands,
and in 1885 the mill was destroyed by fire. The old
ruins and tall brick smoke-stack were removed by the
Park Commission in 1909, after the purchase of the
property by the State, and preparatory to the improve-
ments which have since been made by the Commission
on the plot of ground now termed the "Valley Green."
THE SHODDY MILL
Was another old land-mark, built about 1850, and
used for a number of years in the manufacture of shod-
dy— a wool fibre produced from rags — an article em-
ployed, to a considerable extent, a generation or more
ago to mix with new wool as a cheapening element in
the manufacture of woolen cloths.
It stood in the rear of the grounds belonging to the
Headquarters, immediately across from the railway
station, near what is now the entrance to the Boulevard.
For a number of years the old ruin stood as a grim sentinel
of bygone days to greet the visitor to the Forge as he
stepped from the railway train.
THE OLD BREWERY •
The tumble-down shell of the old brew house is also
within the recollection of some of the oldest residents of
the village. Its location was just east of the M. E.
Church on ground now crossed by the quarry railroad.
It was erected in the first place as a barn for the adjoin-
ing dwelling by Mr. Vogdes owner of the property —
was afterwards converted into a tannery — later into a
brew house, and after being used for a time as such,
stood for many years unoccupied. The period of its
activity belonged to the fifties in the last century. While
in operation it is said to have carried on a thriving keg
trade in the surrounding country, besides filling many a
stone jug from its back door to be carried up Jug Hollow,
the frequent appearance of which in that wooded ravine,
once known as Welsh Hollow, caused it to be dubbed
with its present cognomen. Jug Hollow is about a mile
west of the village, and is entered by a road leading to
the left from off the lower road to Phoenixville.
Why the projectors of the brewery should have
planted it so close to a Methodist church has always
been a mystery. That its noteworthy location, on the
other hand, had anything to do with its ultimate failure,
cannot now be determined. Its ruins were removed
about 1870, and the stone used for the erection of the
extensive wall which still appears around the adjacent
property, east of the site, which was then the home of
Mr. Isaiah Thropp who had owned and occupied it for
some years.
SIDE-LIGHT ITEMS
AN INTERESTING EXTRACT^
THIS extract gives valuable information on
several points and settles the question and
date of the burning of the Forge. It covers
the period when Washington and his army were in the
vicinity of Pottsgrove.
"September i8th, 1777. A man sent out discovered
upwards of 3,800 barrels, of flour, soap and candles, 25
barrels of horseshoes, several of tomahawks and kettles
and intrenching tools, and 20 hogsheads of rum, 3 miles
from hence at the Valley Forge. A detachment of 3
companies light infantry went this night to possess it.
The commanding officer of the Light Infantry had his
horse shot.
" 20th. Weather extremely fine. At 2 this morning the
guards moved, and posted themselves with the light in-
fantry at the Valley Forge. Wagons employed in the car-
rying off from the magazine there the rebel stores. This
morning 5 rebel sentries fired on the guards, who took
the whole. They slightly wounded one of our officers.
" 2ist. Sunday. At 5 this morning the army moved.
Marched 3 miles to the Valley Forge and 2 more to
Moore Hall, making 5 miles, and there encamped.
" We found the houses full of military stores.
^ From the Journal of Captain John Montresor. Chief Engineer of the
British Army in America in the Revolutionary War.
103
" A bridge was ordered to be made across the Schuyl-
kill at this place where the river is 120 yards, and got
in great forwardness intending to deceive the enemy.
Almost every day one or two deserters come in.
" 22nd. At 5 this morning the Hessian Grenadiers
passed over the Schuylkill at Gordon's Ford, under fire
of their artillery and small arms, and returned back,
being intended as a feint. At the same time the Light
Infantry and Grenadiers passed over the Schuylkill at
Fatland Ford without a single shot and there took post.
" 23rd. Just after 12 this night the whole army
moved to the opposite side, on North side of the river
Schuylkill by the way of the Fatland Ford, and by 10
A. M. the whole Baggage and all had happily passed
over.
" Our couriers affirm that the Rebel army principally
retreated to Reading. On leaving the ground of our last
encampment we set fire to the Valley Forge and destroyed
it.
" 26th. At half past eight this morning army
marched .... and later took possession of the city."
THE THREATENED ATTACK
AT WHITEMARSH
In a letter to Governor Livingston dated December
nth, 1777, Washington writes: "General Howe, after
making great preparations, and threatening to drive us
beyond the mountains, came out with his whole force
last Thursday evening, and after manoeuvring round us
till the Monday following, decamped very hastily and
marched back to Philadelphia."
104
In a letter to Congress dated the day previous (Decem-
ber lo), after giving a detailed account of these manoeu-
vres, including a skirmish between the forces on Thurs-
day and Friday, Washington adds: "I sincerely wish
that they had made an attack; as the issue, in all prob-
ability, from the disposition of our troops, and the strong
situation of our camp, would have been fortunate and
happy. At the same time I must add that reason, pru-
dence, and every principle of policy forbade us from
quitting our post to attack them. Nothing but success
would have justified the measure; and this could not be
expected from their position."
Howe unquestionably was afraid to assail Washing-
ton, and failing in his efforts to draw him out into open
combat, gave up the attempt and marched his soldiers
back to the city.
The following extract from the diary of Robert
Morton, an intelligent resident of Philadelphia at the
time, bears on the point:
"Dec. 8, 1777. Several reports about the armies,
but this evening, to the great astonishment of the citizens,
the army returned. The causes assigned for its speedy
return are various and contradictory, but ye true reason
appears to be this, that the army having marched up to
Washington's lines near to Whitemarsh, and finding him
strongly posted, thought it most prudent to decline
making the attack."
Washington, on receiving intelligence of Howe's
retreat, said: "Better would it have been for Sir Wilham
Howe to have fought without victory than thus to declare
his inability."
105
The Whitemarsh Headquarters are still standing
about half a mile east from Camp Hill Station, on the
North Penna. Railroad. The house, built of stone, is
two and a half stories in height, eighty feet front, and
twenty-seven in depth. Camp Hill, on which part of
the left wing of the army was posted, is directly in the
rear of the house. A redoubt known as Fort Washington,
on the right of the lines, is still well preserved. Near
this spot a neat memorial granite slab was erected in
1 89 1 by the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolu-
tion, which bears the following inscription: "About
700 feet south of this stone is an American redoubt and
the site of Howe's threatened attack December 6, 1777.
From here Washington's army marched to Valley Forge."
When the army was about to leave Whitemarsh a ten
dollar prize was offered by the General for the best sub-
stitute for shoes, a kind of moccasin, made from raw
hides. Those competing were to have their samples in
by 9 o'clock the next morning, and the Major-General
of the day was to serve as judge, and bestow the reward
upon the successful artist.
"The next morning (Dec. 12) the want of provis-
ions— I could weep tears of blood when I say it — the
want of provisions rendered it impossible to march till
the evening of that day." — John Laurens to Henry
Laurens, Dec. 23, 1777.
"Dec. 1 2th. At 6 P.M. we marched to the bridge
(made of wagons) which we crossed in Indian file, and
at 3 A. M. encamped near the Gulph, where we remained
without tent or blankets in the midst of a severe snow
storm." — Diary of Lieut. James McMichcel.
106
"Dec. 14. It is amazing to see the spirit of the
soldiers when destitute of shoes and stockings marching
cold nights and mornings, leaving blood in their foot-
steps! Yet notwithstanding the fighting disposition of
the soldiers is great!" — Letter from the army in Contin-
ental Journal Jan. 15, 1778.
"Dec. 16. Cold rainy day — Baggage of our Divis-
ion ordered over the Gulph — were to march at ten — but
the baggage was ordered back, and for the first time since
we have been here the tents were pitched to keep the
men more comfortable." — Dairy of Surgeon Albigence
Waldo.
"THE GULPH"
The Gulph Mill was erected in 1747. It is situated
at the intersection of the Gulph road with Gulph creek,
which empties into the Schuylkill at West Conshohocken.
It is about one and a half miles west of the river and six
miles southeast of Valley Forge.
During the army's stay at Valley Forge, the "Gulph,"
or Gulph Mills, was an important post, and a large guard
was continually kept there. Col. Aaron Burr, then only
22 years of age, who joined Washington's army at White-
marsh, was put in command of this guard. His biog-
rapher, Davis, relates the following characteristic
anecdote of the intrepid young Colonel.
"It appears that the militia stationed to guard the pass
at the Gulph were continually sending false alarms to
camp, which obliged the officers to get the troops under
arms, and frequently to keep them on the alert all night.
These alarms, it was soon found, arose from want of a
107
proper system of observation and from a general loose-
ness of discipline in the corps. General McDougall,
who well knew the quality of Burr as a soldier, recom-
mended the Commander-in-Chief to give him the com-
mand of the post. This was done, which resulted in the
introduction of a system of such rigorous discipline that
mutiny was threatened and the death of the Colonel
resolved upon. This came to the knowledge of Burr,
and on the evening decided upon (every cartridge first
having been quietly drawn from the muskets) the de-
tachment was ordered to parade. When in line one of
the men stepped from the ranks and levelled his musket
at him, whereupon Burr raised his sword and struck the
arm of the mutineer above the elbow, nearly severing it
from his body. In a few minutes the corps was dis-
missed, the arm of the mutineer was the next day ampu-
tated, and no more was heard of the mutiny."
THOMAS PAINE'S ALLUSION
TO THE HUTS
In a letter to Dr. Franklin dated "Yorktown, May
i6th, 1778," Mr. Paine writes: "General Washington
keeps his station at Valley Forge. I was there when the
army first began to build huts. They appeared to me
like a family of beavers, every one busy; some carried
logs, some mud, and the rest plastered them together.
The whole was raised in a few days, and it is a curious
collection of buildings, in the true rustic order."
ANOTHER VIEW
From a letter written by a soldier in camp the fol-
lowing is taken: "Headquarters, V.F., Dec. 30th, 1 777,
108
Tuesday. A considerable number of our men are in
warm comfortable huts, but others have made little
progress, the march of several thousand of the enemy
to Derby, where they remained till the 28th, having
obliged a considerable body of our men to leave their
work and watch them."
McINTOSH'S HEADQUARTERS
One writer says: "General Mcintosh was quartered
at the house of Joseph Mann, who lived on the west side
STERLING SPRING
of Valley Creek, near Valley Forge. This house has not
been located." It is more than likely that the house was
one which stood on the present Riddle property near the
creek, a hundred or more yards above the present dam.
This was the old farm-house on the place in the' time of
the Revolution. Lately having fallen into decay, it was
torn down in 1907. A pillar of the ruins is preserved,
109
and near it a hundred feet to the west is the ancient
spring and spring-house. The locahty was that of the
Artificers Camp. Mr. Burk says: "A contemporary
map, now owned by the Historical Society of Pennsyl-
vania, shows what other maps do not, the location of a
Brigade at this point. This was the Carolinian brigade,
which belonged to Lord Stirling's Division, if the map
is trustworthy." The Carolinians, however, belonged
to General Mcintosh's brigade, the latter being com-
posed of troops from North Carolina and Georgia; and
if the brigade belonged to Lord Stirling's Division the
Artificers' site was a most natural and convenient loca-
tion for it, as Lord Stirling's command included the
Corps of Engineers. The house referred to, therefore,
was in all probability the headquarters of General
Mcintosh, if not, for a time, even that of Lord Stirling
himself.
General Smallwood was sent Dec. 19 with a force to
Wilmington, to establish a post to protect the region
from the encroachment of Howe's army. This force
was the Division lately commanded by General Sullivan,
and consisted of the Maryland troops.
About Jan. 21st (1778) many Virginia men whose
term of service had expired were mustered out, or dis-
charged in squads of 20 or 25.
Colonel Pickering was Adjutant-General till Jan.
13th, when called by Congress to a seat at the Board of
War. Colonel Scammel was then made Adjutant-
General in his place.
Isaac Potts was a Quaker minister. He was also
owner of a grist mill which stood opposite the Head-
quarters. It was he who is said to have discovered
Washington kneeling in prayer in a retired spot in the
woods. After going home he said to his wife with tears
in his eyes: "If there is one man in the country whose
prayer God Almighty will hear it is General Washington."
THE NAVY IN 1776
The Revolution began without a single armed vessel.
In 1775 Rhode Island began by fitting out two small
schooners to defend the coasting trade, and Connecticut
provided two for the same purpose. Rhode Island also
THE POTTS MANSION
( Washintjton's Headquarters )
was the first to recommend to Congress the formation
of a naval force, and in December 1775 Congress put
into commission about thirteen vessels carrying less than
a hundred guns. Thus began the gallant American
navy. The first naval battle occurred about three weeks
after the battle of Lexington. The first to cause the
striking of the British flag on the ocean was a Captain
Wheaton. After the peace of 1783 the first American
flag displayed in the Thames at London was on board
the "WilHam Penn," a curious coincidence. Its com-
mander was Captain Josiah. Its appearance created
considerable excitement and indignation among the
people. When from a group of ladies arose an expres-
sion of astonishment at the Captain's presumption and
audacity, the wife of the Captain tartly repHed, "When
we win gold, we wear it."
In October 1777 while General Howe was in posses-
sion of Philadelphia, though many of the inhabitants
had left the city because of the war or a dread of the
British, an accurate census was taken by order of Gen-
eral Cornwallis, and reported as follows: Houses in
city, 3,508, empty 587, stores, 287. Inhabitants 21,767,
exclusive of the army and strangers.
PATRIOTISM AMONG THE LADIES
A lady of Philadelphia, writing to an officer in the
British army who had been intimate in her family before
the war, thus expresses to him the patriotic feelings of
her sex:
"I assure you that though we consider you as a public
enemy we regard you as a private friend, and while we
detest the cause you are fighting for, we wish well to
your personal interest and safety. I will tell you what I
have done. My only brother I have sent to the camp
with my prayers and blessings; and had I twenty sons
and brothers they should go to emulate the great exam-
ples before them. I have retrenched every superfluous
expense in my table and family. Tea I have not drunk
since last Christmas, nor bought a new cap or gown since
your defeat at Lexington. I have the pleasure to assure
you that these are the sentiments of all my sister Ameri-
cans. They have sacrificed assembHes, parties, tea-
drinkings, and finery, to the great spirit of patriotism.
If these are our sentiments, what must be the resolu-
tions of our husbands hut to die or he free! All ranks of
men among us are in arms. Nothing is heard in our
streets but the trumpet and drum, and the universal
cry is: * Americans to Arms ' " — Watson^s Annals.
At the time of the Revolution the v^oods in the neigh-
borhood of Valley Forge had ceased almost entirely to
be inhabited by wild game. Deer were captured as
late as 1770, bear as late as 1771, while the killing of a
wolf is reported as late as 1780. Fish, both in the
Schuylkill river and its tributaries, were found in great
abundance.
At the time of the encampment Norristown was a
farm, and belonged to one John Bull, whose barn the
British burned the day after they burned the Valley
Forge, as they passed through the region on their way
toward Philadelphia. John Bull, notwithstanding' his
name, was a strong Whig, hence the burning affection
shown him by his British visitors.
The first house erected in Norristown is said to have
been framed in Valley Forge and floated down the
Schuylkill River.
During the past half century many mementoes of
the encampment have been dug up within the lines.
In the spring of 1857 William Kennedy turned up with
his plow several 12 and 15-pound cannon balls, and a
number of axes. Such articles also as pewter plates and
spoons, bayonets, fragments of muskets, musket-balls,
etc., have been found.
"3
A LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
Perhaps the first circulating hbrary estabHshed any-
where in the region of Valley Forge was one which existed
from 1798 to 1802 at the "Corner Stores," about four
miles distant on the road to Phoenixville. This library
contained at least seventy-six books, including the
Spectator, Milton's Poems, Josephus' History, and
others; and its membership included about 25 persons.
Among them were John and Benjamin Longstreth,
Jacob and Matthias Pennypacker, William Davis, John
Jacobs, Moses Robinson, Daniel Sower, and others.
The last-named gentleman was a son of Christopher
Sower, Jr., and grandson of Christopher Sower, acknowl-
edged to be "probably the most famous and important
of Pennsylvania printers and pubKshers." They pub-
lished the Bible three times, and the New Testament
seven times in German many years before it appeared
in English in America. A pubhc journal was printed at
Germantown in the German language by Christopher
Sower as early as 1739. Its name (Anglicized) was
"The Pennsylvania Recorder of Events." In 1744 it
was continued by Christopher Sower, Jr., under the
name of "The Germantown Zeitung," and published
till the year of the war, 1777. This publishing house is
still in existence in Philadelphia.
A STUNNING NEWSPAPER PARAGRAPH
As a sample of the extravagant war reports that now
and then gained circulation during the Revolution, the
following will be of interest, taken from the New York
Gazette during the British occupation of New York City :
114
"June 28, 1777, Saturday.
Since Thursday a report has prevailed that there
had been a smart battle in the Jerseys. After the King's
troops had embarked, and the day appointed for the
sailing of the expedition, the General received intelli-
gence that the rebel army was v^ithin three miles of Am-
boy. The troops were disembarked and marched in the
night to surprise Washington. The reports vary much.
1,000 killed of the King's troops, 5 or 6,000 of the rebels,
and as many taken prisoners with their artillery: Wash-
ington was among the slain, Stirling dead of his wounds;
Governor Livingston likewise; 400 Pennsylvanians had
grounded their arms, and come over to the regulars.
Seventy were taken prisoners who, together with a couple
of field pieces, were brought to the city."
John Waterman was Commissary of General Var-
num's brigade. The troops of this brigade were en-
camped near the star redoubt. The following extract
from a letter written by Captain William Allen, of the
Rhode Island Continental Line, informs us of the date
of Mr. Waterman's death:
"Camp Valley Forge, 24th Apr. 1778.
"Dear Sir, Captain Tew and myself arrived safe
to post the 22nd inst.; found the encampment in perfect
tranquility, and the enemy peaceable in their quarters.
Am sorry to inform you that yesterday died of a short
illness that worthy gentleman, John Waterman, Esq.,
Commissary to our brigade.
"Humble Servant,
Wm. Allen."
OATH OF ALLEGIANCE
February 3rd, 1778, while the army was at Valley
Forge, a resolution was passed by Congress requiring
all officers, civil as well as military, holding commissions
under that body to take, and subscribe to, an oath or
affirmation of allegiance to the United States. Follow-
ing is a copy of the oath subscribed to by an officer in
camp:
"I, James Glentworth, Lieutenant of the 6th Penna.
Reg't., do acknowledge the United States of America
to be Free, Independent and Sovereign, and declare
that the people thereof owe no allegiance or obedience
to George the Third, king of Great Britain, and I
renounce, refuse and abjure any allegiance or obedience
to him, and I do swear that I will to the utmost of my
power support, maintain, and defend the said United
States against the said king George the Third, his heirs
and successors, and his and their assistants and adher-
ents, and I will serve the said United States in the office
of Lieutenant which I hold with fidelity according to
the best of my skill and understanding.
James Glentworth."
"Sworn to at the Valley Forge Camp this nth day
of May, 1778, before me
Stirling, M. G."
MARTHA WASHINGTON
Mrs. Martha Washington's custom was to join her
husband each year and spend a month or two with him
while the army was in winter quarters. On these occa-
sions she took a profound interest in the welfare of the
116
soldiers, spending much of her time in ministering to
their comfort, and at all times entertained toward her
hero husband the deepest sympathy in the details and
responsibilities of his position.
Mr. John Hunter (in his letter of 1785, quoted else-
where) notes "what pleasure she took in the fifes and
drums, preferring it to any music that was ever heard" —
and to see the troops reviewed a week or two before the
men were disbanded, when they were all well clothed,
was, she said, 'a most heavenly sight.'
She came to camp at Valley Forge on Feb. loth,
though she had been looked for by the General for
several days previous. The next day, Feb. nth, old
style, was the General's birthday, and was no doubt
joyously, though quietly, celebrated at the Potts mansion,
an extra dish or two, prepared by the hand of the thought-
ful wife, being added in honor of the occasion to the daily
menu. That the nth was the date usually recognized
and observed as Washington's birthday at "that time,
instead of the 22nd as now (new style), is shown from
the following item which appeared in the "New Haven
Gazette" of March i6th, 1786: "Richmond, Va.
February 15. Saturday last (the nth) being the birth-
day of his Excellency, George Washington (when he
entered the 54th year of his age), an elegant ball was
given on the occasion at the Capitol in this city, where
were a numerous assembly of gentlemen and ladies."
"FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY"
Perhaps the earliest use of this epithet, as applied
to Washington, is that which occurs in a German Alma-
nac, "The Nord Americanisch Almanac" for the year
117
1779 (the year after he was at Valley Forge), size, small
quarto, printed at Lancaster, Pa. In the front piece,
full size of page, an emblematic design presents in its
upper portion a figure of Fame with a trumpet in her
right hand, and in her left a medallion portrait laureated
inscribed: "Waschington." From the trumpet proceed
the words: "Des Landes Vater" — "The Father of the
Country."
TRIBUTE TO WASHINGTON
"And what shall I say of him who bears on his heart
the weight of all! Who can measure the anxieties that
afflict his mind ? Who weigh the burdens that he has to
bear ? Who but himself can ever know the responsi-
bilities that rest upon his soul .? Behold him in yonder
cottage, his lamp burning steadily through half the
winter night, his brain never at rest, his hand always
busy, his pen ever at work, now counselling with Greene
how to clothe and feed the troops, or with Steuben how
to reorganize the service; now writing to Howe about
exchanges, or to Livingston about the relief of prisoners,
or to Clinton about supplies, or to Congress about enlist-
ments, or promotions, or finances, or the French alliance;
opposing foolish and rash counsels to-day, urging prompt
and vigorous policies to-morrow; now calming the
jealousy of Congress, now soothing the wounded pride
of ill-used officers; now answering the complaints of
the civil authority, and now those of the starving soldiers,
whose sufferings he shares, and by his cheerful courage
keeping up the hearts of both. Modest in the midst of
pride, wise in the midst of folly, calm in the midst of
passion, cheerful in the midst of gloom, steadfast among
ii8
the wavering, hopef^ul among the despondent, bold
among the timid, prudent among the rash, generous
among the selfish, true among the faithless, greatest
among good men, and greatest among the great — such
was George Washington at Valley Forge."
AN AFTER VISIT TO THE OLD CAMP
Washington made a flying visit to Valley Forge nine
years after the encampment while attending the Conti-
nental Congress in Philadelphia, as is learned from his
diary, which reads as follows: —
"1787, July 30, near Valley Forge: In company
with Mr. Govr. (Gouverneur) Morris, and in his Phaeton
with my horses, went up to one Jane Moore's in the
vicinity of Valley Forge, to get trout.
Tuesday, July 31, at Valley Forge: Whilst Mr.
Morris was fishing I rid over the old cantonment of the
American (Army) of the winter 1777 & 8 — Visited all
the Works wch were in ruins; and the Incampments in
woods where the ground had not been cultivated. On
my return to Mrs. Moore's I found Mr. Robt. Morris
and his Lady there."
The stopping place here referred to was not Moore
Hall, but the home of a Mrs. Jane Moore, one mile west
of the Schuylkill river on Trout Creek, which empties
into the Schuylkill three miles below Valley Creek.
Washington does not here speak of the appearance
of the place on this visit, further than to say that all the
works were in ruins.
Six years earlier, or three and a half years after the
Encampment the place was revisited by Lieut. Enos
119
Reeves, of the Pennsylvania Line, who makes the fol-
lowing reference to it in a letter to a friend:
" September, 1781 —
On Monday Lieut. McLean and I set off for the city
of Philadelphia. Came around by the springs, lost our
way by going the back road, and found ourselves near
the Bull Tavern at the Valley Forge. We dined near
Moor Hall, came through our old encampment, or rather
first huts of the whole Army. Some of the officers' huts
are inhabited, but the greater part are decayed; some
are split up into rails, and a number of fine fields are to
be seen on the level ground that was cleared, but in places
where they have left the shoots grow it is already like
a half-grown young wood.'*
WASHINGTON'S CAREER IN BRIEF
George Washington was born February 22nd (nth.
Old Style), 1732 — Served as Colonel with Braddock in
the French war at the age of 23 — Was elected by the
Second Congress Commander-in-Chief "of all the forces
raised, and to be raised for the defence of the Colonies"
June 15, 1775, two days before the battle of Bunker Hill.
Was 45 years of age while at Valley Forge — Resigned his
commission at the close of the war, Dec. 23, 1783 — ^Was
President of the convention held in May, 1787, for the
formation of the Constitution — Wsls chosen President
of the United States by unanimous vote of the electors
April 6, 1789 (inaugurated April 30) — ^Was elected for
a second term, serving in all from 1789-97 — Delivered
his noted farewell address to his countrymen early in the
autumn of 1796 (Sept. 19), and on the 4th of March,
I797> retired from office, following for the rest of his days,
at Mount Vernon, the quiet pursuits of agriculture.
He died Dec. 14th, 1799, when almost 68 years of age,
and is buried at Mount Vernon.
LENGTH AND COST OF THE WAR
The war for American Independence began with the
skirmish at Lexington on the 19th of April, 1775, and
ended eight years later with the Treaty of Peace signed
at Paris, September 3rd, 1783, in which England acknowl-
edged the independence of the colonies. On the 2nd of
March in that year the preliminary treaty arrived,
signed in Paris, November 30th, 1782, and on the eighth
anniversary of the battle of Lexington (April 19th, 1783)
a cessation of hostilities was proclaimed in the army.
On the 3rd of November, of that year, the army was
disbanded by a general order of Congress.
The British army evacuated the city of New York
and embarked for home on November 25th, carrying
with it the last insignia of Royal power in the United
States. The most signal triumphs of the American
army during the war were at Saratoga and Yorktown,
the latter being the decisive battle. George the HI was
then on the throne of Great Britain, Louis the XVI on
the throne of France, and Joseph II on the throne of
Germany.
The financial cost of the war to the United States
was ^135,193,700, and to England 136,000,000 sterling.
The total number of Continental troops enlisted was
231,959. Militia 58,747.
DEVELOPMENT OF PATRIOTIC
SENTIMENT CONCERNING
VALLEY FORGE
FOR nearly a century after the famous encamp-
ment Valley Forge as a place of sacred interest
was given but little public consideration. Mean-
while its historic fortifications were slowly becoming
effaced by the action of the elements and the tread
of civilization.
Foremost among those who first were impressed
and pained by the general apathy concerning the place,
and sought to arouse public sentiment in its favor, was
Mary E. Thropp, afterwards Mrs. Mary E. Thropp
Cone.
Her father was Isaiah Thropp, and her maternal
grandfather John Workizer, both of whom in their day
and generation were among the most respected and
influential citizens of the historic village.
Born and reared under the shadow of its hills, and
with an intense love for her native heath, she developed
even in her school-girl days a zeal and ambition to be of
service in awakening public interest in the place, and
from thence on, with this object in view, she labored
continuously by pen and personal endeavor till in time
her labors were rewarded.
The direct fruitage of this effort, combined with that
of others who had become interested, was the ''Valley
Forge Centennial Association," formed December i8th.
1 877- Its President was Isaac W. Smith, of Valley
Forge, at whose house the organization was formed;
its Secretary, John Robb; its Treasurer, John W.
Eckman. Other gentlemen present at the formation
were Col. Theo. Bean, Dr. N. A. Pennypacker, Gen.
B. F. Fisher, Maj. R. R. Corson, Charles Ramey,
Maj. B. F. Bean, I. H. Todd, Chas. Mercer, John Rowan,
and Daniel Webster. The special purpose of the Asso-
ciation was to arrange for a patriotic demonstration on
the one hundredth anniversary of the encampment then
approaching, which was successfully carried out in a
well-planned celebration of the event held on the grounds
June 19th, 1878, with an interesting and varied program
of exercises, the effect of which, was to give untold im-
petus to the cause.
Mrs. Cone, then at Para, Brazil, whither her husband,
Mr. Andrew Cone, in the spring of 1876 had been sent
as United States Consul, was solicited to write a poem
for the occasion, and in response produced and forwarded
her interesting "Valley Forge Centennial Poem," of
nearly one hundred and fifty lines, the reading of which
formed a part of the program. After her return to this
country, and the subsequent death of her husband, she
continued her efforts along the line of her long cherished
project, and in 1882 became the originator and Presi-
dent of the "Valley Forge Monument Association," the
purpose of which, in addition to the raising of money
for the object, was to arouse a general public sentiment
that would induce Congress to make an appropriation
for the erection at Valley Forge of a substantial granite
shaft upon which might be chiselled in outline the story
of the encampment. With this in view public meetings
123
were held in various parts of the country; the interest
and support of many prominent persons were enhsted,
and an appeal was ultimately made to Congress for an
appropriation. Miss Amelia Thropp, sister of Mrs.
Cone, was Secretary of this Association, and Mr. Anthony
J. Drexel, of Philadelphia, its Treasurer.
In the meantime, as an outgrowth of the Centennial
Celebration, another, if not perhaps a rival, organiza-
tion had been formed, entitled: "The Valley Forge
Centennial Memorial Association," of which Mrs. Anna
M. Holstine, of Bridgeport, was made Lady Regent.
The object of this Association was to raise money for
the purchase and maintenance of the "Washington
Headquarters'' as a suitable memorial of the encamp-
ment. Appeal was made to patriotic citizens for contri-
butions of a dollar or more, the contributors to receive
in return certificates of stock at a dollar per share; and
in time the property, including the house and one-and-
a-half acres of ground, was bought for ;^6,ooo, one-half
of the amount being secured by a mortgage. Difficulty,
however, was afterwards experienced in raising even the
interest on the mortgage, and an appeal was made to
the "Patriotic Order of the Sons of America," at its
convention in Norristown in 1885, which came at once
to the Memorial Association's relief, and in a very short
time paid off the debt upon the property, obtaining in
return from the Association 3,600 shares of stock, and a
voice in its management.
An appeal to Congress was made by this Association
also for an appropriation toward its work, but when it
became apparent that no aid for either society could be
obtained from that source, appeal was made by both
124
to the Pennsylvania legislature for aid from the State.
An appropriation of ^5,000 was made by the State to the
work of the "Memorial Association," and with this in
1887 improvements were made to the Headquarters,
restoring it as nearly as possible to its original condition,
and a warden's lodge was built.
By this time public sentiment, instead of crystalizing
in favor of the monument idea, seemed to be gaining
rapidly in favor of a State reservation which should
embrace as large a portion as possible of the historic
camp-grounds. Finally, with the accomplishment of
such a project in view, June 8th, 1893, under an Act
of the Legislature passed May 30th of that year, the
** Valley Forge Park Commission" was created: "to
acquire, maintain and preserve forever the Revolution-
ary Camp Grounds at Valley Forge for the free enjoy-
ment of the people."
An appropriation of $25,000 was made for the pur-
pose of the Commission, at the time of its appointment;
in 1895 the sum of ;^io,ooo more was appropriated and
other amounts have since been added.
The Commission as at present constituted, includes
W. H. Sayen, President; Samuel S. Hartranft, Treas-
urer, J. P. Hale Jenkins, M. G, Brumbaugh, John
P. Nicholson, WilHam A. Patton, John W. Jordan,
Richmond L. Jones; John T. Windrum, and A. H.
Bowen, Secretary and Superintendent.
On the occurrence of the 125th Anniversary of the
evacuation of the Valley Forge encampment, a fitting
celebration of the event was held, June 19th, 1903, under
the management of the "Valley Forge Anniversary
Association," organized in Philadelphia in December
125
of the previous year. The officers of this Association
were General B. F. Fisher, of Valley Forge, President;
J. P. Hale Jenkins, Esq., of Norristown, Vice-President;
George N. Malsburg, of Pottstown, Treasurer; and John
O. K. Robarts, of Phoenixville, Secretary. The exercises
were presided over by Hon. S. W Pennypacker, then
Governor of the State, and consisted of a military salute,
music, patriotic addresses, the reading of Mrs. Thropp
Cone's poem "The Sentinel of Valley Forge," and other
interesting features, which together occupied the most
of the day. The Musical Director was Mr. John O. K.
Robarts, who, it may be further noted, directed the
music at the Centennial Celebration in 1878, and at other
celebrations occurring in 1879 ^^^ i^^?? ^s well as that
of 1903, and still lives to sing.
In the same year, 1903, the Park Commission ob-
tained an appropriation of ^93,650, enabling it greatly
to extend its operations in the way of improvement and
additional purchase; and on June 15th, 1905, by arrange-
ment with the "Memorial Association," it took over into
its possession the Headquarters, paying the Association
^18,000 for the property. Its latest acquisition is the
plot of ground in front of the Headquarters, taking in the
Valley Creek and extending from the railroad arch to
the bridge on the Gulph road — a plot which has been
transformed into an attractive green.
Thus has the Valley Forge idea grown in its pro-
portions from a patriotic sentiment, inflaming the hearts
and inspiring the action of a noble few, until it has
awakened response in the liberty-loving breasts of mil-
lions, and embodied itself in a memorial enduring as
time, and eminently worthy of the glorious cause. A
u6
bill is at present before Congress, recommending the
appropriation of ;^ioo,ooo for the erection of two
memorial arches in the park, and with fair prospec
of favorable action. Would it be extravagant to cherish
the hope that some day the National government may
take the entire enterprise under its wing and establish
in Valley Forge a National Military Post r
i^l
INDEX
Agriculture 56
Allegiance, oath of 115
American Revolution 120, 121
Anniversary Ass'n 124
Arch, Memorial 28, 126
Armory, Springfield 95
Army, Continental 19
Arnold, Gen. B 82
Arsenals 95
Artificers 32, 78
Bake-ovens 52
Baptists, letter to 34
Barracks, old 18
Bridge, Sullivan's 27, 42, 63
Bull, John 112
Bull Tavern 35
Burr, Col. Aaron 106
Burying Ground 52
Camp Store 66
Centennial Ass'n 121
Centennial Memorial Ass'n 123
Chadd's Ford 58
Charleville Musket 98
Churches 33, 34, 44
Colonial Spring 36
Congress 126
Conway Cabal 75, 76
Corner Stores 35, 113
Cornwallis, Genl Ill
Cotton ! 57
Court Martials 73
129
Daily Ration 66, 70
Daughters, Am. Rev 42, 44
Dewees, Col. Wm 16, 30, 90, 92
Dreyse, Nicholas ; 97
Drudgery, Camp 77
Dubuysson, Col 94
Duportail, Genl 61, 65, 78
Encampment 13, 18, 20, 21, 28, 60
Entrenchments 39, 40
Evacuation Day 26
"Father of His Country" 116, 117
Fatland Ford 16, 27, 59, 63, 103
Ferguson rifle 97
Flogging 74
Forge, Old 30, 31, 38, 90, 103
Forsythe gun 97
Fortifications 64
Fort Huntington 40, 44
Fort Washington 38, 39, 46
Fountain Inn 35
Franklin, Benj 107
French creek 16, 34
Fulton, Robt 54
Game, wild 112
Generals in camp 75
Gordon's Ford .^ 59, 103
Grist Mill .' 98
Gulph Mills 58, 60, 106
Gulph road 17, 29, 30, 35
Gun Factory 32, 94, 96
Hospitals 89
Howe, Genl 104
Huts, camp 21, 22, 44
Huts, Hospital 52, 71
Huts, Provost Guard 72
Jug Hollow 100
130
Knauer's Paper Mill 99
Knox Headquarters ' . 52
Lafayette, Genl 65, 94
Landing, Riddle's . 15, 108
Letters from Camp 31, 82-85
Library, Circulating S2, 113
Livingston, Gov 103
Malin, Joshua 37, 96
Manufactures 57
Markers 39, 52, 64
Matson's Ford 58 60
Mementos of Encampment 112
Memorial Chapel 39, 43, 44
Mcintosh, Genl 108
Monmouth 27
Montresor, Capt. John 102
Moore Hall 35, 118
Monument Ass'n 122
Monument, Waterman 42, 44
Monument, Wayne 48, 50
Mortality in camp 23
Mount Joy 15, 16
Mount Joy Manor 17, 90
Mount Joy Observatory 38, 47
Mount Misery 15, 16
Musketry 97
Navy in 1776 110
Newspapers in 1776 55, 114
Norristown in 1776 112
Notables in camp 77
Ogden, Joseph 99
Paine, Thos 107
Paoli Massacre 58
Park Commission 46, 124
Parker's Ford 58
Patriotism of the women 121
Penn, William. 16, 90
131
Pennypacker, Hon. S- W 50
Philadelphia, Population 54, 111
Phila. and Reading Ry 55
Pickering, Col 109
Picnic Grounds 46, 124
Pioneers 79
P. O. S. of A 32, 124
Postal service in 1776 55
Potts David 16, 90, 96
Potts Isaac 30, 109
Pottsgrove 102
Reveille 62
Religious services 78
Revisit to old camp 118, 119
Rogers, John and Chas 37
Shoddy Mill 100
Slab Tavern 35
Smallwood, Genl 109
Sower, Christopher; Daniel 113
Sparks from Camp Fires 71
Star Redoubt 42
Steuben, Genl 35, 36, 80
Stirling, Genl 109
Stirling Spring 108
Straw 22
Sutlery 67. 68
Swedes' Ford 58, 60
Teaching in 1776 56
Thanksgiving 26, 61
Thropp, Isaiah 33, 121
Todd, I. H 42, 44, 71
Tribute to Washington 117
Valley Creek 29
Valley Forge Inn 37
Valley Forge, The 16, 90
Valley Forge Village 14, 16, 17, 29, 39
Varnum's Headquarters 40
Washington, Genl 13, 19, 30, 110
Washington, Birthday of 116
Washington, Burdens of 24
Washington, Career of 119
Washington, Dinner with 69
Washington, Headquarters of . . . 29
Washington, Life Guard of 39, 76
Washington, Martha 25, 69, 115
Washington, War Horses of 80
Washington Inn 39, 43
Washington Spring 38
Whitemarsh 104, 105
Williams' Corners 34
Woolen Mill : 37
Workizer, John 33, 34, 121
LbJa'li
VALLEY FORGE
GUIDE AND HAND-BOOK
What
to see in
Park
and
Village
COMPLETE COMPENDIUM OF
INFORMATION
PRESS OF J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
PHILADELPHIA
#'
Live Music
Archive
Librivox
Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland
Museum of Art
Internet
Arcade
Console Living Room
Open Library
American
Libraries
TV News
Understanding
9/11